You trudge to the backroom and cut open boxes of cups, pulling them free to start stacking them on a steel shelf. Such a waste of time.

Seokjin was not only your business partner. He is your housemate and best friend from college. You know him like the back of your hand.

The two of you met at your university’s Young Entrepreneur’s workshop and immediately clicked after a lengthy conversation about your shared dream to run a coffee shop. After graduation, the two of you you worked hard at odd jobs and pulled your money together (plus a generous investment from Jin’s parents) and started your dream as business owners.

Running your own shop was gratifying in many ways but restricting in many others. While the two of you loved the freedom of self-employment, you were constantly struggling to find good help. The kids in your town were either too self-assured to do hard work, or too inexperienced, causing more work for both of you in the long-run.

Exhibit A: Jungkook. Your best friend hired the kid after a rocky interview. He understands English well enough but struggles to speak it. Jin claimed that he saw promise in him—A “glimmer of potential,” as he put it. Honestly, you believed Jin saw a bit of himself in Jungkook, relating to him on a personal level since he also struggled to learn English at one point. “Just give him a chance,” Jin pleaded. You begrudgingly agreed and have regretted it ever since.

“I just don’t get it.”

“I know, Y/n. It’s just…he’s so eager to learn. He really likes working for us,” Jin whispers, pulling you into the back alley to speak privately.

“He’s a really good barista, I’ll give him that. But Jin, we need someone who can speak with the customers—“

“—and he will. Let’s just give him a little longer to pick it up,” Jin clasps his hands together. He knows how this little gesture gets you every time; his full bottom lip protruding out, eyes wide and begging. “He’s a good kid. Come onnnn.”

You sigh, nodding your approval for the third time this month.

“Fine, but I get to hire the next one.”

Jin beams. “Sounds good to me. But there won’t be a ‘next one’.”

Humph. “We’ll see.”

As far as you could remember, Jin has had a habit of taking in strays, as you so lovingly referred to them. Stray employees, stray friends, stray lovers. He made quick relationships with everyone he met because he only saw the good in them. He had a big puppy heart and you loved him for it, but he could be so incredibly naive.

Once, he fell in love with this girl in college. She was drop-dead gorgeous, lost in life and brand new on campus. You noticed her as she sat alone, timidly crossing her delicate ankles and smoking Virginia Slims like a posh 50’s housewife. “Check out this lamb,” you commented, jabbing Jin in the ribs. That was the first and last thing you said to him before he fell under her spell. Her eyes hooked into his and beckoned him closer with the siren song of daddy issues, helplessness and the hallowed pit of despair that could only be filled with the cocks of strangers.

At this point in life, to say “I told you so” would be painstakingly redundant. This is why you held your tongue when Jin hired Jungkook. Let him figure this out on his own, you thought. There had been countless times when you bailed Jin out of uncomfortable situations that his big dumb heart got himself into. This time, you loosened the reigns.

When he poured his soul into Miss Virginia Slims—mended her heart and made her whole again; you sugar-coated the cracks in his breaking heart after she left. “She’s new to the area. Probably just needs time to find herself,” you lied. But it wasn’t a blatant lie. You knew she was finding herself, but with the help of her young and attentive therapist tucked neatly between her milky smooth thighs.

Days marched on as they always do; slow and rhythmic, with an occasional hiccup that demands emergency triage.

“I specifically asked for OAT milk. I’m allergic to almonds!” A berry-faced woman spouts hysterically at Jungkook. He shrinks from the espresso machine and allows Jin to step in his place.

“Take five, Kook. I’ve got this.”

Jungkook bows his head apologetically at the woman and steps into the back room. He paces nervously around boxes of paper cups and decides to shakily wash dishes in the stainless steel sink.

The rabid woman can be heard clearly from the back room, calling Jungkook all sorts of names he doesn’t understand. You join him in the back and sit on a nearby stool, tucking your feet on the footrest.

“She lies.” Jungkook greets you sullenly.

“Yeah?”

“She is not allergic.” He responds in Korean. “Sorry. Uh…she’s…not allergic.” His face crinkles in a slight scowl, clearly shaken by the shouting. “I can tell.”

You rock lightly on the stool and try not to smile. In moments like this, you can really see his age. He takes his anger out on the dishes, splashing water onto his apron as he scrubs bright red lipstick smudges off of a coffee mug.

“I hate when women cake on that junk. Who wears hooker-red lipstick at 6am anyway?” You snort and try to lift the mood.

Jungkook looks at you with a quirked eyebrow. “H-hooker?”

“Sex worker. It’s a derogatory term.” You shake your head and wave him off. “Never mind.”

He scrubs at the stain roughly until the ceramic gleams.

“How can you tell she’s lying?”

“I used soy.” He looks down at the dishes and scrubs steadily, then tilts his almond eyes to see you shake away an amused grin.

“Kook, you can’t do that.”

The balls on this kid. And here you were thinking he was a complete dunce. It’s hard to stay mad when he made your least favorite customer look like a hysterical fool in front of her friends, but this is your reputation on the line. If people start thinking you can’t get a simple latte order right, they’ll easily move their business to one of the many chain establishments within a five-mile radius.

He plops a scrubbed mug into the sanitizing machine and flicks it on.

“She was mean to you.”

He’s not wrong. You were working the register when miss berry and her pack of yes-women came into the shop, commenting on how the decor didn’t match the “vibe.” She annoyed the shit out of you, but who doesn’t? However, she really worked your last nerve when she complained about the lack of chestnut praline syrup, toying with the idea of mentioning it in her Yelp review.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s a paying customer.”

Jungkook sits on the sanitizing machine and faces you, still rocking on your stool. He crosses his arms across his chest. “You looked…frustrated.”

“I’m always frustrated.”

He quirks an eyebrow and straightens his hunched posture on the sanitizer. He either doesn’t believe you or he’s trying to process what you just said.

“Sorry. I’ll do better,” he says solemnly.

He tilts back his head to shake his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. It’s not too long, but it sweeps across his forehead and peeks just past his eyebrows to tickle his lashes. When he first started working for you and Jin, he had a mop of fluffy hair that hung over his face and often covered his eyes completely. You thought it suited his shy personality, but the way he wears it now shows off his youthful freckles, chiseled jawline, and a thin scar, high on his left cheek.

“Thank you, but don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Beat…myself?”

“Don’t worry.” You flash him a thumbs-up, a universal sign that everything is okay.

“Okay.” He returns your gesture with his big thumb.

“Oh, and Kook?”

“Yes?”

You point to his upturned thumb, which has a prominent smudge of red lipstick just at the back. “You missed a spot.”

He shivers in disgust and wipes it on his apron. His hand rubs roughly, only smearing the lipstick further. You both share a laugh, loud enough that Jin pokes his head from behind the doorway.

“I heard Y/n laughing. Something must be wrong.”

You pick up a washrag and toss it at him, but you’re such a bad throw that it pathetically falls to the floor two feet away. Jin dodges dramatically like you’re about to hit him with something powerful, which only makes Jungkook laugh harder until he almost slips off the sanitizer.

“Get out of here, Kim. We’re having a moment.”

Jin puts his hands up and retreats back behind the doorway. Jungkook’s dabs the corner of his eye with his sleeve as his laughter dies down.

Your eyes keep skimming the scar on his cheek when he smiles. It’s so light, you barely noticed it before, but you can see his smooth skin dip at the indentation. Suppose it’s not noticeable unless you’re close enough, which you haven’t been before.

“How did this happen?” You motion to the placement of his scar on your own cheek. He mimics the motion and grazes the thin line gently.

“This? Oh—hah.” He rolls his eyes. “Stupid.”

Now you’re really curious. “How stupid?”

“Very.”

You raise your eyebrow and smile at him. He sighs and walks over to the computer behind you.

“You know computer games?”

It’s hard not to be amused by his question. You have to admit, this is not where you saw the conversation going. “Heard of them.”

Jungkook sighs again. “I was, hm, what’s the word?” He jabs at the air in front of him with boxing jabs.

“Boxing?”

“No—oh, fighting!”

“Fighting? You were you fighting?”

His story is becoming animated suddenly. A dopy smile curls across his lips, exposing his large bunny teeth. It’s a trait you’ve always found a little endearing even when he annoys the living shit out of you sometimes.

“My hyung.”

You quirk your head, a little confused. You recall Jin using the word before, referring to his family.

“Brother?”

He nods. “Older brother.”

“So you fought your older brother…over computer games?”

He nods proudly and laughs at the memory. “See? Stupid.”

“Who won? You?”

He flexes his bicep and rests his arm on the computer monitor triumphantly. “Duh.”

You can’t suppress your laughter at his blatant confidence. It’s nice to see this side of him.

“I didn’t know you have a brother. I haven’t seen your parents either. Do they live here in town?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “In Korea.”

“You’re by yourself then?”

“I live with…a…hm. Friend? Family friend.” He finishes the sentence in his native language, which you actually do understand a bit of, at least enough to know he’s not completely alone.

“If your family is all the way in Korea then why did you leave?”

He holds one hand out like a piece of paper and uses the other to illustrate a painting motion. “Study art.”

You can’t help but drop open your mouth, just a bit. “You’re an artist?” He’s college-aged, but for some naive reason, you just assumed he was working to pay the bills. It didn’t occur to you that he was pursuing something outside these walls.

He nods proudly and walks over to his shoulder bag, slung on the back of the back room door. You’re absolutely lost for words when he pulls out a stack of watercolors, some still-life and others painted beautifully from memory. You wordlessly palm through portraits of familiar faces like Old Lady Faye who usually sits by the bay window and sips chamomile tea. There’s even a pencil sketch of the espresso machine, so real it could pop off the paper and make lattes.

“Kook, these are outstanding.” You look up at his expectant face; lips closed in a concentrated line, wide eyes trained to meet your gaze. “You’re very talented. I had no idea.”

“You like it?”

“A lot. Does Jin know about this?”

He nods his head slowly.

Jin and his big dumb heart. Of course he knows. This glimmer of potential he saw in Jungkook makes so much sense now and you feel a little dumb not catching on earlier.

Jungkook lifts the watercolors from your lap and neatly files them back into his shoulder bag, careful not to bend the corners. He holds a painting aside, scribbles something at the bottom corner and hands it to you with a smile.

“For you, Noona.”

It’s the pencil sketch of the espresso machine, now etched with his signature and a little note:

Always Fighting! -JK

A couple weeks had passed and you had to admit, Jungkook was really improving.

No more milk shakeups and the rude customers reared their ugly heads less and less.

You sit across the coffee shop and watch his hands expertly move along the espresso machine, pulling velvety rich shots and pouring steaming milk over it to form beautiful patterns.

“He’s really taken to the espresso machine. Customers seem to like his drinks.” You nudge Jin to look over at the bar.

“I told you, he’s a natural—“

“Actually, they love his drinks. The other day, someone requested that he make their drink. Specifically him. Can you believe that?”

“Glad to hear he’s making an impression. So anyways—“

“And after he made their drink they gave him a TWENTY DOLLAR tip. For a five dollar mocha? What did he make, the elixir of life?”

Jin snaps his fingers at you. “Jungkook is doing great, I’m glad to hear it. So you’ll be fine then? While I’m away?”

Jungkook hands the finished drink to a waiting customer. Their face lights up when they see the latte art, earning a small satisfied smile from the barista. He looks over at you and gives you a sly thumbs up from behind the partition so only you see, crinkling his eyes with a toothy grin. You flash him a thumbs up and turn your attention back to Jin.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Y/n, were you even listening to me earlier? I asked if you’re comfortable training him while I’m away. It’s only a week.”

“Away…”

“Korea.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Family reunion.”

“Duh, of course.”

Jin narrows his eyes at you and raises his eyebrow. “You’re sure you’re fine with this? I can shorten the trip by a few days, I’m sure my family won’t mind.”

You look up at Jungkook who’s now balancing on a step-stool, perched on his tip-toes to stock flavored syrup in the high cupboard. He moves slowly but carefully, making sure each bottle is neatly placed and faced forward.

“Jin, please. Look at him, he’s gonna be fine.”

Jungkook steps down for the stool and stretches an arm over his head to close the cupboard, revealing a small flash of midriff. You’ve never noticed how built he is, catching a glimpse of his abs. So unexpected.

“And you?” Jin asks, waving a hand in front of your face.

“He’s fine—Er, I’m fine.”

“Okay, okay. You’re fine, he’s fine.”

“Yep.”

Jungkook crouches down to the ground to lift a fresh box of syrups onto the counter, flexing his thighs as he drives up through his heels. The material of his pants is so thin that it reveals every muscle at work. Unforgiving and very restraining, hugging each curve, showing you how dedicated he must be to his workout regime. He must work out.

"But you can’t fire the kid while I’m away.”

“Mhm, okay. Don’t fire the kid.”

Jungkook lets out a small groan as he heaves another box onto the counter. He dabs his forehead with the back of his sleeve, then bends over to peel his hoodie up over his head. Underneath he’s wearing a simple white t-shirt, lightly dampened with sweat, enough to give you another eyeful of his abs right through the fabric.

“Are you feeling alright? Your face is red.”

You bring two fingers up to your temples and rub them soothingly. “Enjoy your trip, Jin.”

“I’m just asking.” He stands from his chair and pushes it in, resting his hands on the back and leaning in close to your ear. “And stop checking him out, Y/n. He’s our employee.”

“Bye, Jin.”

Chuckling, he pats your back and walks away.

This is going to be a problem, you just know it.

Day 1

It’s a slog of a morning, painfully under-caffeinated and quiet. You lost a lot of motivation without Jin annoyingly tapping at your door to wake you up. He usually rises before the sun, and you would rather crawl into a hole and die.

You routinely roll out of bed to the sound of clanging pots and pans. Jin loves cooking breakfast and you love pulling the covers over your head for just five more minutes of warm solitude. Your favorite Jin trait is his domestic way of living. After cooking breakfast, he’d usually brew you a cup of coffee. Then he’d head down to the shop to greet the first batch of cranky customers while you kickstart your brain. It’s his specialty to deal with cranky people. You have no doubt he’ll make a woman very happy someday, but for now, you reap all the benefits.

It’s only a week, you assure yourself. Seven whole days.

You flip over your phone and type out a text.

Y/N: I don’t hear the auto-drip running. Does this mean I have to fend for myself while you’re away?

You check the time and realize that, if by some miracle he’s already made it to Korea, it must be nearly midnight. Nonetheless, he answers right away.

…

Kim Shoulders: For someone who runs a coffee shop…

Y/N: It doesn’t taste the same when I make it for myself.

Y/N: I’ve told you this.

There’s a long pause and you imagine him sighing heavily and rolling his eyes.

Kim Shoulders: I’m on it.

Y/N: What? How?

You stupidly turn your head to look around the apartment. Nope, Jin still isn’t here. Meh, it was worth a shot.

Ten minutes pass and Jin still doesn’t respond. You’re about to message him back when you receive a text from a ghost of your past, and unfortunately, your present.

…

Min: Meet me at the shop in fifteen.

Min: Don’t make Daddy wait.

The day gets shittier by the second. No breakfast in bed, no coffee, now THIS?

…

Y/N: You’ve got to be kidding me.

Min: Don’t make me come over there.

Y/N: This is my actual nightmare.

Min: Then call me Daddy Krueger, because this nightmare is coming to life.

Y/N: ㅠ_ㅠ

You tab out of the conversation and angrily text Jin back.

…

Y/N: You’re incorrigible.

Y/N: Have I ever told you that?

…

Five minutes pass.

Y/N: JIN. He’s calling himself DADDY.

Kim Shoulders: (⌒_⌒;)

Kim Shoulders: You said you needed coffee.

Y/N: This is not what I had in mind.

Kim Shoulders: Sorry, you’re breaking up. I’m going through a tunnel. *Crckk*

Y/N: You’ll pay for this.

Kim Shoulders: *Crrrckk* I’m losing reception. Uh oh, I can’t hear you anymore…

…

You’re going to kill him. It’s official. He’s finally cracked you.

The first face you see when you arrive at the shop is none other than Min Yoongi, Jin’s other college bestie and your unofficial arch-nemesis. He’s everywhere, always, and rarely welcome by you.

“Morning, Y/n. I see you forgot to wear a bra today.” He flicks the pull tab on your zipper. “Did I fluster you that much?”

You look down and see that he’s right. You roll your eyes. He’s always right, you hate to admit.

“Stop looking at my tits, perv.” You swiftly zip up your sweatshirt.

Yoongi laughs and stretches his arms up to yawn loudly.

“Don’t pretend you’re annoyed.” He winks at you and tongues the inside of his cheek. “You like the attention.”

He knows you almost as well as Jin. It’s super annoying.

You step past him to unlock the front door.

“What brings you to my stoop, Min? Come to harass me while Jin’s away?”

“Something like that.” He slips off his backpack and slings it on the back of his favorite chair. “Jin sent me to keep you company.”

“So kind of him.”

“Actually, he asked me to stick around for the week.”

“Oh?” You turn on your heel to face him. He flashes his signature gummy smile.

“Yeah, he said something about you needing help while you train the new guy. Jungkook, right?”

You sigh and plop your keys onto the counter next to the register. Jin is so protective of the shop, he couldn’t even give you a week to try and mess it up. He hasn’t taken ownership of much in his life, except this shop. It’s his baby, his pride and joy. The integrity of the shop is of utmost importance, especially since his parent’s names are co-signed on the lease. Of course he would hire the help of Min Yoongi to make sure you don’t do something stupid. He’s the Robin to his Batman, his go-to right-hand man. So what are you, chopped liver?

“He didn’t say anything to me about it.”

Yoongi watches closely as you misfire the espresso machine and shoot hot air into your own face. He laughs loudly and scrambles to help you turn the nozzle off. “Can’t imagine why.”

You brush your hair back and pat the moisture off your cheeks. “Don’t need the sarcasm, Min.” You defensively point at the clock on the wall. “It’s too early and I haven’t had my coffee yet—“

“Morning, Noona!” Jungkook’s airy voice combs through your groggy complaints.

Yoongi’s eyes dart to the front door. He looks Jungkook up and down as he walks to the counter, arms full of pink pastry boxes. He smirks at the younger guy and extends his hand out to greet him.

“Nice to see you again, Kook.

Jungkook adjusts his stance to cradle the boxes in one arm while he shakes Yoongi’s hand with the other. You can see just how confidently he grips his hand by the flex in his forearm.

“You too, Yoongi-ssi.” Jungkook nods courteously at the older man, then turns his attention back to you with a glimmer in his eye. “I’m excited to work…uh…together today. It’ll be fun!”

You smile at him and nod in response. He reminds you of Jin a bit. His positive attitude and eagerness to please. It’s sweet.

He stands beside you to help ready the espresso machine, nudging Yoongi out of the way slightly. Jungkook tongues the inside of his cheek and tightens the steamer until the airflow stops; something Yoongi must have looked past when he was pestering you.

“I’ll, uh, be over there Y/n.” Yoongi shuffles out of the way to allow you and Jungkook more room. “Just shout if you need me to take over the register, or whatever.”

“Thanks, Yoong.” You walk to the front door and flip on the Open sign.

Jungkook lays out the fresh pastries from the next-door bakery in a display case. They’re arranged neatly from large to small, perfectly in line. He always picks the prettiest pieces with even glazing and a beautiful golden brown bake. He does this every morning without a hitch. You didn’t even tell him to do it. He just knows.

Day 2

It took you a minute to notice Jungkook in the corner of the room, head buried in a fat stack of flashcards. He looks so serious, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. His eyes skim the same card over and over while quietly reading it aloud to himself.

“How long has he been here?” You ask Yoongi.

He shrugs, still focused on his laptop and typing a mile a minute. “Dunno, two hours? He was here before me.”

You sit beside Yoongi and look over his shoulder. He’s in a bidding war over a vintage record player.

“Jesus Min, you sure you want to spend that much?”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “Yeah, Mom. I’m sure.”

You shove him playfully and pinch the back of his arm. He hates being touched when he’s in full concentration and you know it too well.

You used to mess with him in college by hovering your hands above his face when he tried to sleep. It was to partially teach him a lesson for staying out too late, and mostly just for fun. He’d shift his position, curl under the blankets, grumble and curse until you’d leave him alone. He’d scrunch his nose and crinkle his eyes, just like he is now.

“How do you even have that much money? Last I checked, you DJ bar mitzvahs and raunchy bachelorette parties on the weekend.”

He swats your hand off his arm.

“And I do a damn good job. Jewish mothers love a mensch with a little chutzpah.”

You roll your eyes. “Oy vey.”

The counter bid shoots up $100. Yoongi leans back in his seat and muffles a curse into the crook of his arm.

You’re not sure how you got yourself into this situation, watching over a pack of helpless boys. If it weren’t for you he’d probably sell weed to teenagers again and have four roommates in his one-bedroom apartment.

“Just pull out. It’s too much.”

He flops his hand onto the keyboard and exits out of the bid.

“Y/n, not to be rude, but you need a boyfriend.”

“Excuse me—what?”

Yoongi reclines and slumps, sliding down until his head bumps the back of his chair. He laughs at the look on your face. You’re not sure if he’s trying to compliment you or be his usual dismissive self.

“You need someone to control.”

“Do not, asshole.” You stand from your chair and give Yoongi another pinch to the back of his arm.

“Ouch! Hey, I’m not the only one who thinks so.”

You flick his laptop shut and give him the finger, then stand up and walk over to the counter.

“Hey, Kook, training in ten minutes, okay?”

Jungkook lifts his bloodshot eyes from his flashcards and nods happily when he notices you’ve finally arrived. “Oh—yes, Noona. Ten minutes.”

Yoongi heaves into a belly laugh from his slouched position and flicks his wrist, bending at the elbow to get a full swinging motion. He tries his best to mimic the sound of a whip crack.

You shoot him your meanest warning glare and point at him.

“Don’t make me kick you out, Min Yoongi. Jin’s not here to save you.”

“So bossy.”

“Oh, I’ll show you boss—“

Jungkook’s soft voice peeks from behind Yoongi and interrupts what could have been another pointless argument.

“Noona, I memor…hm. Oh, I memor-ized some new words.” He tucks his flashcards into his back pocket and stands up to join you behind the counter. He types his login into the POS and stands to attention. “Okay. Ready.”

“That’s great, Kook.” You can’t help but smile with him. “I’m proud.”

He’s been studying extra hard in preparation for Jin’s departure, probably out of pure survival instinct. Without his translator he doesn’t have a safety net. Training wheels are officially off.

His wide and dark eyes narrow to crescents as you pat him on the back and give a gentle squeeze to his bicep. Ah, and it’s just as firm and strong as you imagined. Great.

Yoongi scoffs and quietly mutters from his still slouched position. “Pft. Teacher’s pet.”

“At least someone is working around here. He should get a gold star for simply showing up.”

You lean over the counter and flick a coffee bean at Yoongi’s head to grab his attention.

“And listen here, Schmuck. If you’re gonna hang around here all day for the free wifi, buy a fuckin’ cup of coffee.”

He laughs and shakes his head.

“Hm, maybe a boyfriend isn’t what you need. Perhaps a dog.” He makes eye contact with Jungkook and lifts his eyebrows. “Yeah, a dog might suit you.”

Day 3

“Noona, what is 'teacher’s pet’? Is it a phrase?”

“Teacher’s pet? —Ohh. You mean what Yoongi said yesterday?”

Jungkook nods.

Fucking Min Yoongi. You silently curse him under your breath.

“It’s hard to explain. Let’s forget it, yeah?”

Jungkook huffs. He’ll never admit it, but the language barrier really gets him down sometimes. Like moments when you’re scrolling on your phone and find something funny; eyes lighting up at a joke that probably needs a lengthy explanation before he can remotely understand.

“Why do you need a boy-friend? Thought Jin-hyung was your boy-friend.”

God, he’s cute. You know what he means, but he doesn’t realize what he’s said.

“He’s a boy and he’s my friend, but a boyfriend is different.”

“How?”

You look around the shop and are sorely disappointed that no new customers are on their way in. A distraction would be really good right about now.

“You know, a boyfriend. Closer than a friend.”

Jungkook’s eyes widen as he realizes the meaning, and you nod to assure he’s got it right.

“You don’t have one?”

“One what?”

“A boyfriend.”

“Nope.” Trying to redirect the conversation, you point at Jungkook’s art portfolio on the back counter. “Got any new paintings? How’s school going?”

He looks at his portfolio but doesn’t move to pick it up. Instead, he stands in the same spot and leans against the counter next to you.

“Why not?”

“Long story. Let’s change the subject.” You motion back to his portfolio, hoping he’ll take the bait. “So your paintings—”

“Just curious.“

“Just drop it, Kook.” You shoot back at him, a little more aggressive than you intended. “Stop asking silly questions.”

“What is silly?” He replies. “You’re nice, fun…pretty.”

You feel a pit in your stomach, and can’t place why, but it hurts to look at him. Why is he saying this? Why does he care?

“I don’t get it, Noona.”

“It doesn’t matter, Kook!” You cross your arms across your chest and heave out an annoyed sigh. “I don’t need anyone, okay? Do you get it?”

At that, a customer walks into the shop. Jungkook shifts gears and walks over to the register. His smile fades as he slowly nods and draws his eyes to the screen.

“It’s okay. I get it.” he types in his login and helps the customer effortlessly, completing the transaction and stepping away to make their drink. It’s like he doesn’t even need you anymore and the thought alone makes your body feel heavy and sad.

When he finishes up, he walks back towards you, standing with his hands resting stiff on his hips.

“Kook, look at me, please.”

He looks at you with a soft gaze that makes your heart hurt. You can tell he’s uncomfortable from the way his eyes wander to the floor and quickly back to your face. It wasn’t right to speak to him like that.

“Jungkook,” you pause. “I’m sorry for raising my voice. That was unprofessional.”

“Un-professional?” He pauses for a moment, mulls the word over in his mind and looks back at you when the puzzle pieces come together. “Oh, okay.” He shifts his weight to the other foot and wraps the back of his elbow in his palm. “It’s okay.”

There is an uncomfortable silence between the two of you that rings in your ears, budging you to speak first. His large brown eyes follow your arms as you cross them over your chest. His timid nature and watchful gaze is almost childlike, the way he nervously thrums his fingers on the back of his arm and purses his pink lips when he thinks of speaking.

“I didn’t mean to raise my voice—”

“—School is good.” Jungkook quickly replies and steps out from behind the counter to switch spots with you. “I painted more. I’ll show you.” His shoulder lightly brushes against yours as you squeeze past one another, pinned for a moment between the counter and walkway. He places a hand high on your waist to guide you around the counter and releases you with a small “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, Kook—thank you.” You nod at the younger man, straighten out your apron and settle behind the counter. He does the same across from you and opens up his portfolio.

The first painting that slides out is unfinished but strongly resembles the neighborhood park down the street from the shop. There is a tiny swing set, seats swaying in motion like they’re pushed by a strong wind. There are a few streaks of blue on the skyline and a couple other colors swept across the page to define open space. Even unfinished, you can still imagine yourself sitting on the swing and flying through the air like you used to when you were a child.

“I really don’t know how you do it. It’s so remarkable, I could never.”

Jungkook nods. “Thanks, Y/n.” It’s in the way he avoids your eyes and curtly replies that makes you feel a hallow pit in your stomach. It’s back to business now, but you miss his goofy smile.

“‘Y/n,’ you repeat after him. What, I’m not your Noona anymore?”

He shrugs. “Sorry, Noona.”

“No, come on. Please, Kook. I’m sorry for shouting at you. You were just curious.”

“Everyone needs someone,” he replies softly. Your heart thumps powerfully in your chest as the words spill from his lips. His large doe eyes shine a bit while his pouty mouth curls into a gentle smirk. “I need you.”

You choke on your breath. You’re not sure what took you by surprise more; what he said or the way he said it.  

He points at the POS. “I learn a lot.”

You cover your face with your palms for a second, wishing your face didn’t blush scarlet every time you felt embarrassed. “Oh—yes, that’s right. I guess you do need me.”

Jungkook casually half-sits on the counter and cocks his eyebrow inquisitively. He’s pursing his lips and suppressing a laugh. He’s making you flustered. This is new. He loosens his posture to lean across the countertop, his hand covers yours and holds it there for a moment before pulling back.

“I can teach you, Noona. Would be fun.”

The way the honorific casually rolls off his tongue as he looks at you with puppy eyes is a little alarming. Heat prickles beneath your skin the longer he stares.

“You, teach me?”

He motions to his portfolio and smiles back at you, big and toothy. “Art.”

It’s kind of endearing the way his front teeth jut past his bottom lip. And…has he always had a little freckle there? It peeks at the crest of his bottom lip, just a little to the right. The slight asymmetrical placement is endearing, balancing out a couple little freckles that skip across his nose and down his neck.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” You try to push your curiosity aside and type your password into the POS, but you enter it incorrectly and have to do it over. “Thanks, Kook. Maybe someday, after closing, we can have a little session.” His eager gaze distracts you. You can feel his eyes roaming your hands as you try the password twice more, finally getting past the login page. You shake your head and check the time on the computer screen.

“It’s getting late.” You adjust your apron, dusting off a few stray croissant crumbs clinging to the fabric. “Time to close up soon.”

The younger man reaches across the counter and touches your arm at the bicep between his middle finger and thumb. He’s delicate yet assertive, squeezing enough to grab your attention and leaving room to slip away if you choose.

“Jungkook, what’s wrong?”

“I mean it.”

“Huh? Mean what?”

“Would be fun.” His hold loosens even more as his fingertips glide down your arm. Tiny goosebumps prick on the surface of your skin. He gives you a playful squeeze and juts out his bottom lip in a childlike pout, very similar to the way Jin does.

“Please? I wanna teach you too, Noona.” His voice is sweet and melodic, almost in a sing-song plea. But the way he’s looking at you appears to be anything but. His eyes are zeroed in now, narrow and dark.

You clear your throat and slowly bring your arm back to cross in front of your chest. “What are you proposing, Kook? I teach you and you teach me?”

He nods.

“Seems like a fair exchange.” You point your finger at him loosely, “As long as we don’t let it interfere with your training.”

“Inter-fere?”

“Get in the way, you know, distract.”

Jungkook extends his arm across the counter to offer you his pinky. “Promise, I’ll be good.”

You stare at his hand and quirk an eyebrow. “A pinky promise?”

He nods and smiles at you brightly, crinkling the corners of his eyes down to the apples of his cheeks. God, it’s so stupid and cute.

“Okay, pinky promise.” You loop your finger into his and give a little shake, smiling at the juvenile action.

“Look forward to it.”

You give one last shake to your pinkies and detach. “Me too, Kook.”

He holds up his pinky one last time and nods happily, then dusts off a thin sheen of coffee grounds from his apron.

“Let’s close then."

He grabs a broom from behind the counter and begins sweeping the front of the room. You follow his lead and grab handtowel to start scrubbing the counters.

As you clean, the evening sun warms through the cafe windows and casts over Jungkook’s golden skin. It illuminates brilliantly off the sheen of sweat now forming above his brow, all the way down to the nape of his neck. When he looks up to meet your eyes, the light falls into the pit of his irises and softens them to rich honey. You try not to stare and look down to focus on the task at hand.

Maybe you need him too.

He looks away from your shy face and sings a little tune absentmindedly as he sweeps the floor debris into small piles. A slow tempo of cafe acoustic thrums in the background and melds beautifully with Jungkook’s voice, complimenting his light tenor.

It’s surprising how he’s been so very timid, always at your beck and call, attentively listening and absorbing every morsel of information you have to give without a word. Well, now he wants you to listen to him.

And you’re listening.

You’ve never noticed how beautiful his voice is; soft and airy, yet powerful and shockingly controlled. So, what, he’s just good at everything now? He often hums to himself while he washes dishes, but now he lets his voice carry through the entire cafe, singing for you, his audience of one.

Lately, it seems, he’s full of surprises.

Day 4

“So I’ve been thinking about what I said the other day.”

“Must not have been important. I already forgot.” You rapidly respond, cheeks warming.

You didn’t forget. Yoongi’s words have haunted you since the moment they left his lips.

“Maybe you don’t need a boyfriend.”

“You already suggested a dog—“

“Maybe you just need to get laid.” He says loudly, enough to grab Jungkook’s attention. He looks up from pouring a latte and cocks his head at you. You can see the wheels turning in his mind, piecing the words together.

You wave Jungkook off and shoot Yoongi a warning glare.

“No shit, Sherlock. You’re preaching to the choir.” You snap back in a low voice and pinch his arm. “And keep your voice down. I don’t need the world to know.”

Yoongi snorts a laugh and leans in to speak quietly. “Trust me, they know.”

You roll your eyes now. He’s so condescending sometimes. And goddamnit, you hope he’s not right. It’s bad enough Min Yoongi noticed you’re pent-up lust. The last thing you need is your employee and the whole town catching onto your desperation. 

You look at Jungkook and let out a sigh of relief to see him diligently pouring again.  

“I honestly can’t remember last time you hooked up with someone.”

“Well, Min, I don’t remember ever telling you.”

“You tell Jin, and that’s just as safe as reading your diary to a live audience.”

Damnit. Right again. And now you can’t even remember last time you hooked up with someone. Has it been one, no, two years? Fuck.

“Ugh.” You groan impatiently. “Where are you going with this?”

Yoongi looks at you with a cocky smile and holds his hands out, palms up, with an offering of absolutely nothing. He just continues to smile at you until the awkward silence makes you realize what he’s hinting at.

“Ew, no way—“

“It’s not like we haven’t before.”

Once again, not wrong. But you never would have if you were sober. It was stupid college shit, hooking up with your friends at parties. You’d push it off the very next day and pretended nothing happened, saving that awkward conversation for never. Then repeating the process each time you drank one too many sugary wine coolers.

Jungkook’s staring at you again. His bright eyes sparkle with curiosity, so you wave him off and shake your head like nothing is happening.

“Min, no. Definitely not.”

“Why not? You’re horny…and I’m, well, I’m always horny.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Couldn’t hurt, right?”

You pat him gently on the shoulder and lean in real close to whisper. “That’s why the FDA approved my fancy new space-age vibrator. I can cut out the bullshit—human connection, emotional attachment, feelings.”

“Who’s developing feelings?” Yoongi says a little too loud. “I’m just suggesting we fuck.”

You smile and roll your eyes. Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve heard a boy say that. Definitely not the first time you’ve heard Min Yoongi say it either.

“Until you keep suggesting it, like you are right now. Then you get attached. Probably become possessive and defensive. Honestly Yoong, I’m perfectly comfortable with our current dynamic.”

“What’s out current dynamic?” He winks at you. “Bicker and tease each other, pretending we hate it? Jab and jab until we give in to our primal selves and finally fuck?”

You rub your temples and close your eyes. “It’s more than fucking to you, Yoongi. You know?”

“Not really, mind elaborating?”

You let a heavy sigh tumble past your parted lips. This isn’t the conversation you wanted to have; far from it. “Jin told me you like me.”

“So? Jin likes you too—“

“He told me you really like me.”

Yoongi tenses beneath your touch and his ears redden at the tips. He laughs loudly and catches the attention of a handful of people across the room.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Noona.” He whispers the last bit. “The only one developing feelings for you is that lost puppy you keep barking at.”

You swat at his thigh to quiet him down, harshly whispering.

“The hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean, Noona.” He tips his head in Jungkook’s direction. “You can’t be so wrapped up in yourself not to realize that boy has the biggest crush on you.”

Jungkook is staring at you again. His sweet rosy lips curl into a grin as you meet his eyes. Your heart thrums at the sight.

Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit.

You turn back to Yoongi and give him a pinch. “Keep your voice down, dick.”

You stand from your chair and walk up to Jungkook. He smiles wider when you come close, setting a freshly-made latte on the counter for pick-up. His sleeves are pushed up past his elbows, letting his vascular forearms show bare. He lifts up the hem at the front of his shirt to dab at his dewy forehand. You catch a glimpse of his taut abs and you nearly forget what you were about to say.

“Hey, Kook. Would you, uhh. Would you please go see if our shipment arrived at the back door yet?”

“Shipment? Hm, okay.” He nods and trudges into the back room, away from sight.

You hear Yoongi laugh from his spot at the center of the room. He seems to be a permanent fixture to that wooden chair nowadays, like a barnacle stuck to the bottom of your ship. You wish you could scrape him off and plop him back into the ocean, but he’s tenacious and you kinda respect that.

You motion with your thumb a slicing motion across your neck and point at him. “You’re walking on thin ice, Min. Real thin.”

He laughs harder and braces his hands on the rickety table to hold his balance. “Think about what I said, babe.”

You stride across the room, back at the table, and tug at his ear. “I’ll think about it if you think about working a day in your life.” You playfully walk him by the ear to the front counter like a petulant child.  

Yoongi swats your hand away and types his access code into the POS. “Yep, you definitely need to get laid.”

You flick his ear and walk to the backroom to check on Jungkook, silently praying he isn’t absorbing English quick enough to fully understand what Yoongi said.

Jin was right, he’s getting better. Each day he’s becoming more confident in his speech. He absorbs things that you say and repeats it back like a parrot. A really attractive, human parrot. With muscles and charm.

Now Yoongi is in the mix, and he sees more than you gave him credit for. Sure, he’s a bit of a bum DJ with mismatching socks and a careless attitude, but he majored in communication with a concentration in Y/n. Well, Hell, both of them are too observant for their own good. If Yoongi can see how wound up you are, then surely Jungkook can too. And that can’t be good.

Day 5

After a lot of begging, you finally agreed to let Jungkook give you your first art lesson. That is if he closed up the shop while you wrapped up some paperwork in the back.

“Noona, it’s time.”Jungkook puffs out his chest with his hands on his hips and flashes you a dazzling smile. His apron sways open at the back, ready to hang up for the evening.

You stare blankly at him with your head cocked to the side. “Huh?”

“First lesson.”

You look around the front of the shop to take in his progress. “Just gotta finish closing up, then we can get…started.” You see that he’s already flipped the chairs on top of the counters and restocked the coffee cups. He also mopped the floor...and cleaned the windows?

The front of the shop is closed for the night and sparkling clean. Not that you ever doubted his ability to close in Jin’s place, but you are amazed he did it so fast. What normally takes you and Jin an hour together took Jungkook half an hour, all by himself.

“Did you…?”

“I did! Um, how do you say?” He rubs a circular motion on the countertop with the heel of his palm.

“Wow, you really did.” You gawk with your mouth hung open. “Oh, polish. You polished the counter.”

“Pawl-ish.”

“Yep. …And holy shit, you also…”

“Yes, the espresso machine too. ” He bounces on his heels, giddy and excited. “We can start now? I took out the trash, cleaned the bathroom. Everything.”

“I guess it’s time for our first lesson.” You shake your head in disbelief. If only it were possible to bottle his motivation and pour it into your morning coffee. Who needs Adderall when you can have 800mg of Jeon Jungkook?

“We’ll start with…uh…the basics, and work on…um…how do you say this?” He skips between languages.

“Okay. So we’ll start with the basics, and then…?” You try to finish the sentence for him. “Shading? Line-work?”

“Ugh, so frustrating.” He closes his eyes until the word pops up. “Subject.”

“Subject matter? Like inspiration, that sort of thing?”

“Gah. Yes.” He smacks his forehead. “Stupid, stupid.”

You grab his hand mid-smack. “Stop it. You’re not stupid.”

He wasn’t always so critical of himself. His sighs and aggravated pacing has clearly ramped up, just in the last day or two. Maybe Jin shouldn’t have gone.

“I wish I had your brain, Y/n. You’re so smart.”

“Your brain works just fine, Kook.”

“But yours works better.”

You cup his hand in yours and reach down to cup the other. His palms are sweating, which you didn’t think was possible. He’s never been this nervous in front of you. Sure, he’s learning, but he’s always been driven and confident. You admire that about him. He never seems to let the world weigh him down.

“My brain doesn’t work better. Why do you think that?”

His head is hung low, a little defeated. “You know, uh, so much.”

“I’m older than you. I’ve had more time to learn.”

“Hm. I see.”

You give his hands a little shake to wake him from this self-deprecating state. The oxygen leaves the room when his smile fades.

“I know some things, and you know some other things.”

He looks at you with his wide glassy eyes, so kind and curious.

“It doesn’t mean I’m smarter and it definitely doesn’t mean I’m better,” you continue. “And you’re so motivated. You have passion, Kook. Do you know what that means—passion?”

He nods and quirks a shy smile at the corner of his plush lips. “Yes.”

“Perfect.” You give his hands a squeeze and release them. “Then let’s get started, yeah?” You pull out a fresh piece of watercolor paper from his shoulder bag and sit on a barstool beside him. You lean on your elbows to get a closer look at the painting he’s working on, and he catches a glimpse of your cleavage as you press your arms together.

Jungkook audibly swallows. He tries to relax his shoulders in a heavy sigh, stretching out his neck. If it isn’t your presence that gets his heart rate up, then it’s the way you look at him. His eyes dart between the paper and your beautiful eyes as they curve delicately when you smile. 

It wasn’t always like this. You used to brush him off like a pestering fly. You once looked down on him with this holy aura draped around your shoulders, like you owned the world and merely allowed him to live in it.

“Kook?”

Your fresh piece of paper crumples beneath his palm. He must have placed his hand there and didn’t notice. “Ss-sorry. Um…”

“What’s wrong, Kookie?”

He grabs a new piece of watercolor paper for you and replaces the ruined one. “Just, never taught before.” The tips of his ears turn crimson and his skin heats. “And, you make me…” He tilts his head to the ceiling. “Nervous.”

Now it’s time for your ears to flush. “Wha—I make you nervous?”

He nods, shyly looking at you under his large black hoodie.

“You’re the artistic mastermind, the infamous JK. Picasso who? I’m the one that should be nervous.”

“Okay, okay.” He can’t hide the smile spreading across his face. He’s no stranger to compliments, but it feels different when you do it.

“I’m here to learn, so don’t let me distract you. Right now, you’re the teacher.”

Jungkook rubs his hands together like he’s warming up to pitch as a baseball game. “Okay, let’s get it!”

The first lesson starts off smoothly. You go back and forth discussing different painting mediums and even try out a couple swatches to see which works best for your vision.

“What is your vision for this painting, Kook?” You dab at a speck of acrylic paint on your wrist.

“Vision…”

He flicks his pencil across the page a few more times and thinks it over.

“You know, what do you want to paint? What’s your muse?”

“Muse?”

“Your inspiration.”

“Oh—You.” He says without hesitance. 

“…me?”

“I paint you, you paint me. We’ll practice…portraits.” He quirks his head at you to read your expression.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun, I guess.” You follow his expert hands as he already begins tracing the outline of your face. “But don’t judge too harshly. Remember, I’m a beginner.” You point your finger at the younger man and he nods, already locked in full concentration.

An hour passes in a blink and you’ve almost forgotten that you were supposed to be painting too. You were enamored by the speed and efficiency of Jungkook’s brush strokes. In less than twenty minutes he moved from his pencil sketch to a mixture of watercolor and oil paints.

“Noona, look at me, yeah?”

“Oh, okay.” You’re about to turn your head, but his hand skims your cheek to guide you exactly where he needs you to look.

His eyes are extra dark and narrowed in concentration.

“So serious,” you poke, scrunching your eyebrows to mimic his expression.

He tries to stay focused but your silly face makes him smile. “Shh, almost finished.”

“Oop—okay, back to business.” You pinch your fingers in a line across your lips like you’re zipping them shut, then brush your hair back with one hand to give him a better look at your face. “You’re supposed to be teaching me though. Remember?”

Without looking away from you he continues to make his finishing strokes on the paper below. “I got…distracted…” His voice trails off.

You lean forward on your elbows to get closer to him. You try inching closer and closer to psych him out and throw him off his game, but his eyes continue to scan every feature of your face for a few solid minutes before calmly placing the brush aside.

“Hah!” You lift your arms in a silent cheer, congratulating yourself for breaking his concentration. “Got you. I win—“

You’re cut short by his hot lips pressing against your own. It takes you by surprise, catching your breath at the back of your throat. Breathing in through your nose, you inhale his natural scent mixed with a gentle touch of fabric softener. It takes you a moment to process what’s happening, and when you come to your senses, you can’t will yourself to stop. Instead, you let him stand from his stool to hold your body close to his. You tangle your hand in his hair and softly scratch his scalp for balance as his hands timidly explore your back.

His body is so warm. You can feel his heart beating rapidly as he presses your chests together. Your mouthes part and you let him explore even more of you, granting him access to glide his tongue against yours in a deeper kiss. It isn’t until you are both lost for breath that you break away, staring at each other with lusting, hooded eyes.

“Noona, can I…?” His shaking slender fingers lightly trace the buttons of your shirt.

You can’t find your voice to answer back, so you smile, wordlessly giving him permission to open your button-down. Carefully, he pops each button, moving down until your shirt slides off your arms and onto the floor. Today just happens to be one of those days when you didn’t wear a bra. From the look on Jungkook’s face, he’s shocked by your decision.

He doesn’t touch you right away. He just stares at you, scanning your half-naked body with immense interest. It isn’t until you guide his nervous hand to cup your breast that he remembers what to do.

“Kookie, touch me. It’s okay.” You release his hands and let him gently palm you with care, rolling your sensitive buds between his fingertips. His eyes are wide and curious and his bottom lip is tucked loosely between his adorable bunny teeth.

“You feel good, Noona. So…warm…” He licks his lips when you arch your back into his touch. You’re so close to that time of the month that your skin is heightened with sensitivity. Every little scratch and pinch is heaven.

“Do you want me to touch you too, baby?” You really can’t resist asking. He looks so cute and innocent.

Jungkook’s mind goes numb at the sound of his new pet name. He doesn’t know how to express it, but he needs you to know the effect you have on him. He nests his hips between your legs so you can feel his already rock-hard length pressing against his black jeans.

“A-again?” His pouty lips beg you sweetly.

“Hm, what? ‘Baby?’”

“Mhm..” Jungkook groans and involuntarily bucks hard against your core.

God, it would be torture to try and pull back now. He’s absolute putty in your hands when you roll your hips against his length. He’s moaning into your ear, utterly wrecked. You’ve never been in this position before. You want to be dominant and take what you need. If he sounds this sexy just from grinding, you’re dying to know how he sounds when you make him cum.

You roll your hips once more. “Does that feel good, baby boy?”

He can’t seem to control his lust a second longer as he dips down to capture your nipple between his teeth, teasing between light and hard pressure. He flattens his tongue against the tender bud and laps it in and out of his hot mouth, sucking loudly. He looks up and grows even harder at the sight of your blissed face. You feel so good, you swear you could cum if he kept going.

“Kookie, be good for me, okay?”

He detaches his hungry mouth from your chest, lips damp and rosy. “I’ll be good.” He nods his head. His eyes are wide and patient, waiting for instruction.

You’re compelled to pull him into a slow kiss, savoring the feel of his pout melting into you. His compliance and devotion to serving you go beyond anything you’ve ever experienced romantically. The soft spot in your heart gets even softer. You barely break away, just far enough to whisper to him. “Do you want me to touch you, baby boy? Want your Noona to make you feel so good?”

“Yes, yes, pleaseee.” His breathless begging tickles your lips. It’s all you need to stand from your stool and guide him to sit up on the counter. He shimmies his jeans down to his knees and lets you take care of the rest, sliding his boxer-briefs down too.

“So eager, huh?” You glide your hand along his shaft and feel him twitch beneath your fingertips. “You’re so big, Kookie, I don’t know if I can fit around you.” You genuinely don’t know, mentally taking note of yet another one of his unexpected traits. You lick your palm and dribble a pool of saliva directly onto his cock.

“Mm—oh,” his moans get louder, nice and needy as you wrap your hand around him. He can’t even wait for you to move on your own, lifting his hips and rutting into your palm. “Mm, it’s so wet, fuck. Noona, Noona, fuck it’s too good.” He slips into his native language, too horny to focus on translating. 

Lately, you’re all he can think about when he touches himself. This sight of you nested between his legs and jacking him off is blowing any fantasy he had completely out of the water.

“God, baby boy, you’re so close already. Look at that pretty pre-cum dripping over my fingers.” You pump him fast, putting the focus on his tender and aching tip. 

His head falls back when you spit directly onto his cock and lather the saliva up and down his full length. Using your other hand, you use some of the moisture to roll his balls tight against the base of his dick, squeezing gently until tears prick at the corners of his eyes. 

“You want to cum, huh?” He feels full to burst, balls aching in your palm. It’s flattering, really. How easily you could get him to his breaking point. You can’t wait to see what he looks like when he reaches his peak. “Want to show your Noona how much you like her?”

“Like her so m-much.” He stammers, unable to form coherent sentences. “Please, oh—need to—“ He leans forward and rests his head against your shoulder and laps hot open-mouthed kisses onto your neck. “I can, Noona? P-please.”

“Yes baby, you’ve been so good. Cum for me.” He bites and sucks your neck hungrily and holds you tight as you work him through his orgasm, steadily pumping slower and slower as his seed spills over your fist with wet smacks.

“Gah—that was so good. I needed that so bad, Noona, you have no idea. I’ve wanted you to touch me for so long. God, you’re beautiful.” He spills his praise into your ear, unobstructed by translation, just stream-of-consciousness praise after what was probably the best orgasm he’s ever experienced. 

He tilts his head, still resting against your shoulder, and gives you the softest, loving peck. “Thank you, Noona.”

You hold him safely as he basks in his afterglow. Your mind starts to sober the longer you hold him, reality setting in rapidly. 

Here you are, in the center of your own coffee shop, half-naked, wrapped around your pantless employee. You feel your arousal sticking to your panties, so you adjust your stance to try and distract your mind.

The low background music of the shop sings to you a familiar song. It’s pleasant—a catchy acoustic tune, and it reminds you of Jin. It makes you think of how he’d react if he knew what you were doing. Just what are you doing?

“Fuck—What am I doing?” You whisper off to the side through gritted teeth, soft enough that Jungkook asks what you said. “Oh…uh—nothing.” You shake your head and look at the wall clock to check the time.

He stirs in your embrace and reaches over the countertop to tear off a paper towel from the spool. Without prompting, he dabs at the mess on your hand. Even after cumming, he’s still shaking like a leaf, hands trembling as they hold yours. He keeps looking at your face and then back down to your hand as he cleans off his release.

“Sorry…” He begs your forgiveness with the sweetest smile as he dries your hand with another paper towel.

“It’s okay, Kook.” You glance around the room absently. It’s not okay—what the fuck?? You can’t even look him in his large doe eyes. It’s not that you don’t want to, it’s just suddenly so hard to face him after what you did to him. You knew what you were doing, getting close to him.

“We should…” You trail off, nodding towards the front door.

“Yeah,” he says sheepishly, hopping down from the counter and yanking his boxers and pants up over his hips.

“It’s pretty late, so…”

“Okay. Yeah.” He drops his gaze to the ground, shuffles his heels around in his shoes until they’re snug on his feet, then looks back up at you.

You both stare at each other, not knowing what to say or what to do, so you lean in and give him a peck on the cheek. Your lips burn to kiss his more, but you don’t.

“We should talk about this…later.” You nervously fiddle with the hem of your shirt, suddenly acting like a little schoolgirl. “I’m…just so tired, you know?”

Jungkook wraps you in a comforting hug and returns the peck on your cheek. “Okay, Noona.” He holds your clammy hand. “It’s okay.” 

His words somehow make it better, but you still feel this aching pit in your stomach, like you really fucked up this time. You can’t reel in the thoughts bouncing around in your mind; you’re worried and confused, and everything in between. It’s Jin, it’s the shop, it’s your reputation, not to mention feelings you haven’t felt in a really long time, and even god-damned Yoongi somehow slipped in there amongst the chaos. It’s a mess, whatever the hell you just stirred up.

You both walk side-by-side out of the front door, Jungkook’s arm lazily wrapped around the small of your back. He watches you lock the door, then holds you outside in the dark night, alone together. He soothingly rubs your back, and it feels so gentle and kind like he knows you’re struggling. 

His body still trembles and you assume it can only be because the cold night air, but then you hear him part his lips to speak, and a quiet confession spills out.

“I…love you.”

Day 6

You’re awakened by heavy drops of rain smattering your bedroom window and thunderclaps shaking your small apartment. If Jin were home right now he would—

—Gah. But he’s not home right now. And you’re alone in your bed, exhausted.

You woke up so many times throughout the night, you’d be surprised if you got an accumulative three hours of rest. You fumble beneath your pillow and pull out your phone:

Y/N: I’m dying. What time does your flight land?

…

Kim Shoulders: It’s that bad over there, huh?

Y/N: Don’t answer my question with another question, Kim Seokjin.

Kim Shoulders: You used my full name—uh oh, it’s worse than I thought.

…

Your phone vibrates in your hand. Its Jin, requesting to FaceTime. If you cared for a second what you looked like, you might have declined, but Jin has seen you in much worse states. You thumb over to accept the call and pull the covers over your chest and up to your chin, looking oh so sad and alone in your big bed. As always, once his face pops onto your phone screen, you’re the first to talk.

“Are you insane? This call is going to cost you a fortune.”

“Ah-ha, I knew it. You look like you’re about to cry.” He combs his hand through his hair with a cocky smile on his face. “I knew something was wrong.”

“Wha—no! Am not!” You didn’t even notice the welled tears blurring your vision until he calls attention to it.

“You can’t lie to me. I can literally see your face right now.”

You turn the camera away from you, towards the wall. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“You didn’t answer mine.”

You sigh heavily, quite dramatic. “It’s fine, Jin. I’m fine.”

“So you’re not going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Fine, then why don’t you visit Yoong? You gotta talk to someone if you’re not gonna talk to me.” He threatens this, knowing how much you’d hate to resort to confiding in Yoongi, of all people.

“How could that possibly help? His idea of empathy is to fall asleep in the middle of me talking or just sit motionlessly and judge.”

“It’s his specialty.”

You turn the camera back to face you now that the tears have absorbed back into your eyes. “So how’s the reunion? Plenty of inappropriate and heated discussions over current affairs, I’m sure.”

“Of course. Uncles are the same in every culture.” Jin laughs to himself and shakes his head. “Honestly, I’m a little sick of everyone here. I really miss the shop. Is that weird?”

You fake gag and then smile when you hear Jin’s laughter over the line. “No,” you laugh along with him. “No, it’s not weird. And you’ll be happy to know I didn’t catch anything on fire. The shop will be here when you get back.”

Jin holds his hand to his cheek and fawns over the good news. “My hero!”

“And your dick-wad back-up Yoongi did absolutely nothing, so kudos for that.”

“Meh, he wasn’t there to do actual labor. He was more of a spy. Let’s call him…my inside man.”

You scoff. “What, you don’t trust me?” Your own words make your eyes water just a bit. Of course, he doesn’t trust you. Why should he?

He just smiles at you and doesn’t acknowledge your question. He only asks—“How’s Jungkook doing?” His genuine smile pulls at your heartstrings.

Jin really cares about him, like a brother. It makes you even more upset to just imagine the look of disappointment he’ll have when he finds out what you did to his star employee. All of his hard work mentoring and training him, probably all for naught.

And Jungkook. You doubt he’ll want to carry on now that you’ve messed with his head. What—he thinks he loves you? He’s only 21…22? Honestly, you wouldn’t be surprised if he forgot those three little words overnight. It felt so awkward before you two parted ways; holding each other and not saying a word for what felt like hours. He was probably thinking of a thousand ways to take it all back.

“He’s good.” You focus on your muscles to force a lopsided smile.

“Hm..” Jin thrums his fingers on the tip of his chin and turns his body to angle the camera better. As he turns, that’s when you see a couple of contemporary office chairs in the background.

“Wait—where are you?” For the first time, you notice the room Jin’s in. The second thing that catches your eye is the avant-garde painting on the wall behind him. It’s too modern to fit into the aesthetic of his parent’s house. His Mom’s eclectic taste would never stand for such a lifeless and drab piece of art. “Why aren’t you at your parent’s house?”

His eyes widen at your observation and he fumbles with his phone, nearly dropping it on the floor. “Oop—crkkk.” He mimics the sound of static, forgetting you can see him doing so. “Going over a bridge…I think you’re cutting out…”

“I can see you, idiot—“

“Crkkk…uh, hate when this happens. Sorry Y/n, I gotta go!” 

And like that, in typical Jin fashion, he ends the call.

At the shop, the day dragged on painfully slow. The rain seemed to have deterred any potential customers, who were seemingly too warm and cozy in their homes to step foot in the torrential downpour. This gave you plenty of time to just stare out the window and wonder what you were going to say to Jungkook when you saw him next. 

You haven’t had the chance to even see him since he took the day off, texting you shortly after you hung up the phone with Jin.

Jeon JK: Hi Y/n.

The simple intro killed you a little, not to mention the lack of his standard honorific ‘Noona.’

Jeon JK: Can’t work today. Sorry.

Just as you expected—he was pushing away.

Y/N: You okay Kook?

Jeon JK: I’m okay.

No, he was running away. Just ‘okay?’ You wish you could say the same about yourself. 

Y/N:  Well, thank you for letting me know. Talk later, yeah?

Jeon JK: Okay.

And just like that, the conversation was dead. For the rest of the day, you helped the occasional customer and stared at Jungkook’s painting of you from the night before. In your opinion, he painted you in a very favorable light. It was sweet, seeing you through his eyes.

At the end of the workday, you closed the shop doors and followed your feet to a place you hadn’t been in years.

Yoongi opens his front door and looks shocked to see you standing on his doorstep. His eyes widen at the sight of you dripping wet and at his front door. 

Your clothes are soaked from the rain and sticking to your body. From the looks of it, you were in such a rush you didn’t bother grabbing a jacket or umbrella. Your cheeks and nose are tinged red, and your eyes are a little puffy.

“Y/n, um…”

You lift your hand and shake a bottle of red wine.

“Sorry, it’s bottom-shelf, but it’ll give us a good buzz.”

He takes a bottle from you and inspects the label.

“Ah, yes, 2019. Good year.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion.” Your eyes well with new tears, but you choke them back and smile through it. You lift a bottle opener from your purse and hand it to him. “Are you going to let me in or watch me freeze to death?”

He laughs and steps aside to let you walk past. “Hey, hey.” Yoongi pulls you over to the kitchen. “Take off those wet clothes and I’ll toss them in the laundry. Don’t want you dripping all over my new carpet.”

“And they said chivalry was dead.” You slip your soaked shirt up over your head and plop it on the tile floor.

Yoongi laughs and pulls a fresh hand towel from a nearby drawer. “Here, dry off while I grab you something to wear.”

You slip off your heavy jeans and kick them to the side. You stand there in just your bra and underwear and lift your eyebrows when Yoongi returns, mouth agape.

You roll your eyes and tap the bottom of his chin. “C’mon, Min. Like you haven’t seen me in my underwear.

“It’s been a while.” He visibly gulps and you notice his eyes widen as he skims down your body. “Have your tits gotten bigger?”

“Ugh, barf.” You grab the clothes from Yoongi’s arms and slip on a pair of his sweats and a plain black long-sleeve. He has a slim waist, so your ass barely fits, but the shirt drapes low and gives you back a bit of modesty.

You walk over to the counter, uncork the bottle of wine and lift it to your lips.

“One of those nights, huh? Skipping the glasses and drinking straight from the bottle?”

“One of those nights.”

You chug a few large gulps. It’s terribly bitter and has a dry aftertaste, but you can already feel the effects of the alcohol numbing your worried mind. You pass the bottle to Yoongi who chugs to match your pace.

In a blink, the bottle is empty and cast carelessly on the floor. You lazily flop onto the living room couch and drape your legs over Yoongi’s lap. You’d prefer it to be Jin’s lap. He wouldn’t slide his hand up your thigh, which is where Yoongi is headed, full steam ahead.

“Why did Jin send you anyways?” You say in an almost undetectable slur. “I do fine on my own.”

“When you want the job done right, you gotta call in the best.” Yoongi puffs out his chest and flexes a bicep in an exaggerated way.

“Puh-lease. If only Jin knew how much of a big help you’ve really been. Non-stop siestas in the back room, fiddling with your laptop…”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “At least I know how to have fun.” His small smile grows even wider, knowing exactly what buttons to push. He thrums his fingers on your thigh. “We can’t all be as productive as your golden boy, JK.”

You stiffen at his remark. You almost forgot about Jungkook, just for a moment. 

“He’s not my golden boy.”

“Hm, could have fooled me. You’re always talking about him.” Yoongi heightens the pitch of his voice to mock you. “Your English is really improving, Jungkook. Wow, you did such a good job with that customer, Jungkook. Thank you for sucking my dick, Jungkook. Jungkook, Jungkook, Jungkook.”

“I don’t sound like that, asshole.” You pinch his side and he involuntarily flexes, nearly jabbing you in the eye, just grazing your skin roughly.

“Shit—sorry!” Yoongi shoves your legs off his lap and leans in close to inspect your eye. “One…aaand two. Whew, it’s okay, you still have two eyes.”

“What a relief.”

“I’ll say.”

The room grows silent aside from the rhythmic jostle of the dryer turning your damp clothes in circles. Yoongi’s eyes are transfixed on yours, and you think he’s still concerned with your eye until he presses his lips to yours. It’s rough, uncalculated yet familiar. When he pulls back, you lean closer. It’s selfish, but you need clarity.

Lips still locked, Yoongi guides you forcibly by the curve of your hips to straddle his leg. “You thought about my offer then?”

You point at the empty bottle on the floor. “Thought it was a bad idea, but here we are.”

“Here we are."

“Still think I need someone to control?” You ask, genuinely intrigued. Jungkook’s needy begging still numbs your mind with unwarranted power and you feel immense guilt for taking advantage.

Yoongi lightly wraps his fingers around your neck and pulls you into a fierce kiss. “That, or someone needs to control you.” His voice dips down a few octaves and you feel his gaze grow fierce. “You’re such a little brat, showing up to my apartment unannounced.” He grazes his teeth across your jaw and nips the expanse of your soft neck, down to your collarbones. “What am I going to do with you?”

You lean over his lap and allow him to yank down your pants, baring your ass to the cold night air. He’s very much in control, even after sharing a whole bottle of wine.

“Just make me cum, Min. It’s not rocket science,” you say cooly. You don’t mean to suck any semblance of romanticism from the room, but it’s always been down to business between you two. It’s been a rough and confusing day.

“I know what you need, princess.” He gives you a smart spank across your ass, hard enough to cause a bright red welt in the shape of his hand. He loves seeing your skin respond to his touch and the way you moan when he gets rough. “Ask nicer and I’ll give it to you.”

“Just—Ugh, you’re so difficult. Please.”

“Not the best, but I’ll accept it.” He spanks you one more time and you yelp in response. “Good girl. Now let’s see if I remember how to make you cum.”

Yoongi slides two slicked fingers across your folds, teasing into your heat before punishing you with hard and fast pumps. You moan at the sensation as it becomes too much and not enough.

“See what you were missing?” He pumps his fingers in and curls on the way out. His other hand occasionally slapping your ass or tugging your hair to look at him. “Tell me you love this.”

You sniffle back a fresh wave of tears. It’s hard not to cry when you can still hear and feel Jungkook’s soft pants against your neck as he came into your hand. It’s impossible to shake him from your mind, even now while Yoongi’s fingers thrust in and out of you.

“Can you…just fuck me?” You beg, needing more. You wrap your hand around his clothed length and feel him harden under your touch.

Yoongi shoves you off his lap and bends you over the couch arm, pulling your arms behind your back. “Keep these here and don’t fucking move. I know you can be a good girl when you want to be.” He claws open a nearby drawer and rummages around.

You hold still. Your mind is swimming. Noona, feels so good. Jungkook’s praises made you ache. Those saccharine moans tumbling off his cherry lips. All you want to do right now is tell him how good he is. He really is too good.

Jin trusted you. You thought you could trust yourself, but Jungkook's warm lips on your skin felt electrifying and new. The second you took charge, he gave himself to you without hesitance. You were needed in a way you’ve never been before, and he begged for it. Your heart skips beat at the thought.

“Shit,” Yoongi seethes between clenched teeth. “Out of condoms.”

You sit back on your heels and rake your hands through your hair. “Fuck.” 

What am I doing? What am I DOING?

Yoongi palms his stiff erection over his pants.“Can we just…” His words drift off; his dominating exterior fading as he sees tears well in your eyes. “If I knew you were coming over I would have—”

“No, no, it’s okay.” You slowly pull the borrowed sweats up over your hips and sit upright on the couch. "It’s my fault. You know, showing up…like this.” The chafe of fabric against your bruised bum is a little uncomfortable. The awkward silence is even worse.

Yoongi adjusts his hard length to lay upright, giving himself just a bit of relief without being touched. He doesn’t want to care, but he can’t help his bubbling curiosity.

“Why did you come here, Y/n?”

“I…Just needed to get my mind off something.” You adjust your bra.

“Worried about the shop? Worried about Jin?“

“No, no, it’s not Jin.” You tug on the cuff of the shirt and straighten out the sleeve until it’s overlapping your hand. It’s comforting and smells fresh. The warmth feels nice too. “I mean, I guess I’m worried about Jin too. I don’t know.”

“What happened?”

“What makes you think something happened?”

“You’ve been crying.”

“Have not.”

“Your eyes are puffy and red.”

You cover your eyes and give his chest a nudge.

“Plus, you haven’t tried to pick a fight with me once since you showed up. Either something happened or you’re feeling sick.” He places his hand against your forehead and rests it there for a second before you swat it away. “Hah—nope, no fever.”

“Know-it-all.”

Yoongi winks and pulls you to rest against his chest. He buries his face in your hair and breathes in light notes of coconut shampoo and just a touch of musk. Hmm, he hums. Interesting. “So what’s his name?”

Your eyes shoot up to his face and your mouth drops open. He has a kiddy smirk on his lips like he just discovered your dirty little secret.

“You have a fresh hickey on the back of your neck, babe. And we both know I didn’t touch you long enough to put it there.”

Your face burns scarlet; it feels hot beneath the long-sleeved shirt now. “Well, shit.” All you can do is nod and give him props for figuring it out so quickly. The cheeky fucker.

“Anyone I know?”

It’s quiet in the room, aside from the hard taps of rainfall against the living room window. Is it easier to lie or just come clean? He’ll figure it out either way.

“Jungkook,” you whisper. His name barely leaves your lips, but Yoongi hears you clearly. His eyes widen in a bit of visible shock.

“The kid?”

“He’s…not a kid.” You nervously adjust the collar of the shirt, suddenly feeling as if it could suffocate you.

Yoongi stares at you with calm eyes and purses his lips together tight. It’s something he does when he’s trying to assess a situation without passing judgment. But his silence speaks volumes.

“Just say it.” You break the awkward staring battle. “I fucked up. I know you’re dying to say it.”

He shakes his head, loosens his grip around your shoulders and walks to the hallway drying machine. He brings your steaming clothes back to the couch and drops them at your side.

“it’s not satisfying when you say it first.”

“Dick!” You grab your warm pants and whip him with the floppy legs. The sheer velocity in which you flail the fresh denim is comical. Yoongi and Jin often make fun of your lack of upper-body strength, to which you give them a good punch to the shoulder and try to prove them wrong.

Yoongi laughs and snatches the pants out of your hands. “I mean, come on. Jungkook?” He combs his hand through his tussled hair and brushes it off to the side. “Is that your type now?”

You raise your eyebrows at the question. What is your type? Does a type exist? When you sucked off your prom date, who roughly pulled your hair and called you his dirty little slut, was that your type? Or was your type the aloof Tinder guy that lived with his mom and didn’t believe in kissing on the first date? You never saw yourself as a girl who had a type.

“He’s really sweet,” you sheepishly reply. It’s unlike you to fold or become shy, especially in front of Yoongi.

“Sweet?” Yoongi cocks his head at you. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word to describe anything other than pastries. Are you going soft?”

“Maybe—er…a little.”

Maybe you’re losing your mind and you can’t blame the wine; the residual alcohol in your system is fading but the minute. Your mind flicks through little moments with Jungkook that makes you feel…different—

—like when he gives you his undivided attention and stares admirably with his dark and curious eyes, your heart falls to the pit of your stomach and lose your train of thought. You crack at the way your name rolls off his tongue in his controlled and airy tenor; like it is a delicate and sacred prayer, made only to pass through his lips. And when he touches you, even if he isn’t touching you, the warmth of his skin makes you nervous and expectant. He makes you feel needed, even when you need him more.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Always indecisive.” He shrugs. “But that’s what keeps it interesting between us, right?” 

You watch as he twiddles his thumbs in his lap, his eyes fanning over his silver wristwatch. This is probably the longest you’ve ever been alone together without fucking or fighting.

“You’re not jealous?”

“A little.” He points his finger at you and squints one eye. “But don’t read too far into it, princess. As much as I love fucking you, I’d much rather be your nemesis. We have a good thing going here.”

“Bickering and teasing each other, pretending we hate it?”

“Exactly.” Yoongi scoots on the couch close to you and places his hand back on your thigh.

“What do I do, Min? He’s my employee.”

“You’re asking the wrong guy. I never wrote my dating code of conduct.” He wiggles his eyebrows at you. “You know this well enough.”

You roll your eyes for the umpteenth time. “It’s never too late.” You pet his thigh in return, trying to take the heat off your own back for a second. “Ever thought about finding a nice girl and settling down?”

He dramatically recoils. “Hey—Don’t make this about me.” Yoongi wags his finger at you, again for good measure. “You’re fucking your employee, Miss Morals.”

“We didn’t fuck! Well, not really…” Your voice trails on, distracted by the vivid memory of Jungkook’s hot breath in your ear.

“If you didn’t fuck then what are you stressing about?”

Your neck feels hot and you constrict tight around a lump in your throat. “He said he...loved me.”

Yoongi adjusts his posture by your side, turning his body to face you better. “Did you say it back?”

“No…”

“But you wanted to.”

You nod, small and shy.

Yoongi sighs and flicks you at the back of the arm, just like you do to him to pester. “Then get the hell out of my apartment and seduce that poor boy.”

You can’t believe Yoongi of all people is telling you what you want to hear. “You’re kidding. You really think this is a good idea?”

“Good? No, it’s a terrible idea.” He smiles when your eyebrows crinkle. “Monogamy is a social construct. I don’t believe you should have to choose.” He winks and shoots you a finger-gun.

“Ugh, barf.” You pretend to gag.

“Just had to throw that out there one last time.” He laughs when you try to punch his arm.

You stand up from the couch, gathering your dry clothes in a hurry. “Well Min, you’ve been as helpful as always.” You smile at his cocky smirk. “No, actually, that came off as sarcastic. You really have been helpful.”

“Uh oh, who have I become? Jin?”

“You could never.” 

You bend down and give him a half-hug. It’s a little awkward showing friendly affection to your unofficial nemesis, but you’re willing to give it a shot. “Bye, Yoong.”

“Bye, princess.”

You practically skip out the door with renewed courage and fire in your veins. The rain has died down, for now, allowing you enough time to power-walk back to your flat. It’s late—the moon shining brightly high above, lighting your way to the front steps of your complex. You’re about to climb up, but you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket.

Jeon JK: Where are you?

Your hands shake as you reply.

…

Y/N: Just got home.

Y/N: I meant to call you, actually. I think we should talk.

Jeon JK: Now?

…

You didn’t expect him to be so eager to speak. He replies again before you have the chance to respond—

…

Jeon JK: Noona, please.

Jeon JK: Want to see you.

Jeon JK: You want to see me?

...

You’re about to say yes, but his next message pops up—

Jeon JK:

…

Fuck. It’s worse than you thought. Seeing his face pop up on your screen, so cute and needy. It’s official, he still loves you.

You send him your location pin and quickly respond with “Yes, please come over. Unit #1.”

…

You run upstairs and try to tidy up as much as possible. 

There are clothes all over the floor which you shove into your hamper and hide in the closet. There are dishes in the sink which you sloppily scrub and stack into the washing machine. And there is your vibrator laying out on your bed which you toss under the pillow. 

You light a candle or two and set the mood as much as you can without looking like you tried too hard. You only wish you had more time to prepare when you hear your door handle shake to open. Then you hear keys fiddling in the lock.

“Jungkook? Honey, I’m coming. Hold on.”

Just as you reach the door, it pops open. Your jaw hits the floor when Jin walks in, arms full of tote bags, and a suitcase trailing behind.

“I could barely hear you through the door. Did you call me honey? What the hell, I knew you missed me, but let’s not get carried away.” Jin smiles when he sees your shocked expression. He was dying to tell you he snagged an earlier flight, but the look on your face made it all worth it.

“Uh—Jin!”

“Y/n!” He mimics the tone of your voice.

You stumble to help him bring in his bags, nearly dropping a tote in the process.

 “I thought you were landing tomorrow, what happened?” You dip your head outside the front door and look around suspicious before stepping back inside and locking it behind you.

“Caught an earlier flight just to scare you.” He notes your clumsy strides across the room to set down his things. “I see it worked like a charm.”

“Yeah, just didn’t expect you to—“

“—Also, did you call me Jungkook? I swear I heard you say his name.”

“No, uh, I—“

You’re cut off by the sound of a knock at your door. Jin looks over at you with his eyebrow quirked.

“Expecting company?” He walks over to the door and unlocks the latch.

“No, Jin, don’t—”

“Why are you being so weird? It’s probably just the Jehovah witness’ again.” He pulls open the door, coming face-to-face with his apprentice. He turns to look at you; your face bright red. Then he turns back to Jungkook.

“H-hi, Jin-ssi.” Jungkook greets the older man in his native language.

Jin returns the greeting with a slow wave of his hand. “Jungkook. What…uh. What brings you to my home so late at night?”

Jungkook leans in the doorway and looks at you past Jin’s shoulder. He shrugs and mouths in English, “What do I say?”

Jin steps out of the way and motions for Jungkook to come inside. “Okay, now you’re both being weird. Jin shuts the door behind the younger man and walks over to you. 

“Y/n, what the hell is going on? Why is Jungkook here?” He continues to look at you for an answer, and the panic in your eyes says everything he needs to know.

“I wanted to tell you before you came home, but—“

Jin walks past you and to the couch. He sits down with his head in one palm and his pointer finger motioning for a moment of silence. “I just need to process for a second. Hang on.”

“Hyung, I—” Jungkook begins to speak but is cut off by the older man. 

“There I was, all the way in Korea, worrying you were going to fire him.”

You jump in, trying to ease the tension. “I told you I wou—“

“Hang on.” He wags his pointer finger for one more moment. “So I thought you were going to fire him. But instead, you were fucking him?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that? We haven’t fu—“

“Woah, wait, everyone?”

“Oh for fuck's sake, stop cutting me off!” You give Jin a mellow shove to the arm. “I was saying...”

Jin laughs, bemused. “Who’s everyone? People know about this?”

“Just Yoongi.”

“Yoongi?” Like a bad comedy, both Jin and Jungkook answer at the same time.

“Noona,” Jungkook interrupts. “You..told him?”

“Sorry honey, it just sort of slipped out.”

“It’s going to take me more than a minute to get used to you calling him, or anyone, honey. What happened to you?” Jin puts his hand on your head to feel your temperature. “Are you sick? Did you hit your head on the sanitizer? You know, I warned you about running around by the sink. It was only a matter of time before—“

“Hyung,” Jungkook interrupts in Korean. “I need to speak with Y/n. Please.”

Jin looks at you for confirmation. “He wants to speak with you.”

You wordlessly give him a nod, pleading with your eyes for a bit of privacy.

“Uh, okay. Yeah, sure. I’ll leave you to it.” Jin gathers a few things into a tote bag and slings it over his shoulder. “Just so you know, this is super weird. Was not expecting this.”

Neither you nor Jungkook looks away from each other. You just wait for Jin to leave so you can talk things out. 

Jin rolls his eyes and walks out the door. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be at Yoongi’s for a while, I guess.” He catches your eye and mouthes “TEXT ME.”

Jungkook nods back at Jin as he slips out the front door. There’s a moment of silence that grows as you listen to Jin’s footsteps fade down the hallway. 

Jungkook is the first to talk.

“Yoongi is…hm, what’s the word?”

“Annoying?” You chime in.

“No…uh. Popular.”

You roll your eyes. “Not really.”

“You told him…about us.”

“Well, uh, yeah. I just stopped by his place earlier. Jin was busy so…I needed someone to talk to.”

Jungkook thinks over what he wants to say. He had a lot on his mind coming over to your place, but the sight of Jin really threw him off.

“Why didn’t you come to work today?” You jump in, not really sure of where to start either. You’re not quite ready to dive headfirst into the whole Yoongi saga.

“Nervous.” He shrugs. “To see you…again.” He shuffles his feet around in his shoes anxiously and looks you up and down. There’s something about your clothes that isn’t right and it distracts his eye.

“Pants.” He states calmly with a furrow of his brow. They aren’t yours, clearly. And from your confession of confiding in Yoongi just earlier today, Jungkook has already pieced together the semi-elaborate puzzle.

Yes, he’s aware of your past. Jin might have mentioned it once or twice in passing, completely unaware that it would only fuel Jungkook’s silent pining further. The first time he met Yoongi he couldn’t resist shaking his hand a little too tight to assert his dominance. It was juvenile and petty to dislike someone for touching you before you even met, yes, but he couldn’t help the way he felt.

 Each time Yoongi flirted or made you laugh was a fresh stab in Jungkook's side. What hurts him the most was you had no idea.

You look down and remember you’re still wearing Yoongi’s sweats from earlier. Fuck, fuck, fuck. You guess now is a better time as any to just come clean.

“I borrowed them…from Yoongi.”

He quirks his eyebrow. His hand twitches at this side. “Did he touch my Noona?"

His question is so sudden and unexpected that you choke on your breath.

“Why do you ask that?”

His eyes are black now, starring daggers. It’s a far departure from his soft honeyed eye smile. “Did he…”

“I...I was confused, after last night.” You turn your eyes down to the floor. “I had to be sure.” 

A swell of emotion pools in your eyes as you worry about how he might see you now. “I’m sorry—Oh god, baby, I’m so sorry.” A desperate tear rolls down your cheek as you reach out to hold him.

His facade falls at your instant remorse. As hurt as he may be at this moment, he’d do anything to dry your tears. He didn’t mean to make you sad. 

He lets you fall into his arms and bury your face in his chest. It’s all he’s ever wanted for months; the moment you choose him over anyone else. He can feel it in your touch and hear it in your voice that you’ve made your decision.

“You are mine now?” His voice starts strong but softens at the end. “I don’t like—uh…hm…” He searches for the word at the front of his mind. “I don’t like sharing.” He cards his fingers through your hair and pulls it back gently to look at you. “I want you. I love you, Noona.”

You lift your face, cheek still pressed tight to his chest, and let the words flow naturally. “I love you too, Kookie.”

He bashfully looks at you, past his long black lashes; his neck and ears warming to a light blush. It’s a look that drives you mad with desire. 

You just want to toss him on your bed and strip all his clothes off, feel him all over and ride him into the mattress. His doting face is so sweet it hurts your teeth, the way his perfect pout curls up to reveal his beautiful smile. 

He’s your baby and he wants to be loved, and the worst of it is he’s probably imaging the many ways he wants to fuck you too. You can surely sense it in the urgency in which he pulls you into a kiss.

He melds his lips to yours and you part to take him in fully. You savor the taste of him as you explore each other. It’s an overpowering rush of musk and deep notes of vanilla. You cling to his jacket tight, feeling dizzy and lustful. You want to own him completely, and for him to own you too.

With closed eyes, he parts your hungry kiss, just far enough so he can guide you back to where he assumes your room is, stripping off his jacket and shirt; his suspicion confirmed once he sees the hand-painted portrait he created for you the night before. It’s perched on your bedside vanity table, right next to the first gift he ever gave you—the signed sketch of an espresso machine.

“Want me to…touch you?” He backs you up to your bed. His eyes are wide, but shy no more. His pretty mouth trails up your neck and lightly nips at the hickey he left there last time, still prominent on your skin. “I want to, Noona. Make you feel…good.” He tongues over the hickey, making you moan his name softly.

“Yes, yes baby.” You break away to lay on your bed. “Please touch me. I’m all yours.” You peel off your shirt and Yoongi’s tight sweatpants, showing Jungkook the matching lace bra and panties you wore all day, thinking about him.

“Good girl.” He says in Korean, completely aware that you don’t understand him. He steps out of his jeans and toss them aside, standing before you at the foot of the bed in just his tight boxer briefs. “I’m going to fuck you so hard and make you scream. We’re going to wake up the neighbors. I want you to let them all know how good my cock destroys you.”

“Kookie, I don’t understand you.” You reach out to touch and pull him closer.

“I know, Noona.” He says this with confidence, palming his erection through his briefs. “I don’t know how to say to you…like this.” His length becomes even more prominent as you slide your bra straps down and unhook it at the back to free your breasts.

“Then show me, baby.” You trace the outline of your pussy with your fingers, just over the fabric, dying to replace them with his. It’s as if he can read your mind when he climbs onto the bed and pushes your legs farther apart.

“Lay back.”

“Okay.” You follow his instruction and lay back against a decorative pillow, propped up just enough to see his head bow between your thighs and lap open-mouthed kisses and nips closer and closer to your covered folds.

“More,” he prompts, pushing your legs so he can see more of you. When your legs fall completely open, he groans at the sight of your panties clinging to every dip and curve with your arousal. 

“I—Oh. I’m gonna…” He curls his fingers under the fabric and pulls it away from your slit, watching your wetness string away from your lips. “S-shit.” Your sweet scent fills his nostrils and coaxes him in to taste.

“Baby boy, oh god.” You lean forward a bit to watch his tongue glide up, gathering your essence and smoothing it over your bud slowly. He’s taking his time and letting you watch everything he’s doing.

“When I touch,” he says, eyes looking up, focusing on yours as he laps between words. “Beg…for me.”

You nod, enraptured in the way his tongue slowly glides in and out of your pussy. He’s so good at it, it’s hard not to wonder how many times he’s done it before. Based on your first impression of him, you assumed he was too timid to even unhook a bra.

“Get it?” His voice is deep now; very out of character. When he lifts his hips to grind down onto the mattress, you see how hard he is beneath his briefs. It’s distracting, seeing his length, so aroused and ready for you. 

You reach out and grip the sheets as he gives you a hard suck, fitting all of you in his mouth, then releasing you, tender and pink. “Noona,” he coos, slipping two fingers into your cunt, “Answer.”

But your mind is so gone with the added sensation, his mouth working you at the same rate as his long digits. “Y/n,” He commands your attention with a sharp smack to your inner thigh. It stings so well. The sensation ripples up to your core, making you clench tight around his fingers. “Don’t ignore. What’d I say?”

“Oh, um…beg. You want me to beg.”

He retracts his fingers from your heat and you whine at their absence.

“Please, please, don’t stop..”

“Tell me.”

“Ah…” You know exactly what you want but you’re not sure if he’ll give it to you. “Please baby, I can’t take it anymore. Need you to fuck me hard.”

“Good, Noona. More?

“Uh, um…yes, please. More.”

He eases two fingers back in and adjusts to bring in a third. You’re eager and wet, so he knows you can take it. The stretch feels so good, but they can’t replace the feeling of his cock buried deep inside you. You saw and felt all of him the night before and you just couldn’t it off your mind.

“Jungkookie,” you hold him at the wrist to grab his attention. “I want you to really fuck me.” You look at his face until you see a small smile creep across his lips. "Please, please, any way you want to.”

Music to his ears. With the taste of you heavy on his tongue, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could last without holding your hands behind your back and taking you raw against your headboard. Actually… 

“Anything?” He asks, hoping he heard you right.

“Anything, honey. I just want to feel your cock inside of me, so bad.”

He gets jittery with excitement. Up until this point he’s been pleased to be your sweetest baby boy, but he wants to show you another side that’s equally exciting, maybe even more.

“Your knees.” He motions to your knees and demonstrates a kneeling position, bent over on the foot of your bed. You follow his lead. “And hold…” He points towards your feet and adjusts your hand to grip your ankles. This new position leaves your ass high in the air, burying your face down into the mattress.

“Like this?” You wiggle your bum a little to grab his attention.

“Yes, Noona.” He smooths his palm over your behind, taking note of the faint imprint of another hand. “Like that.” He can’t subdue the jealousy that bubbles deep inside with the image of Yoongi bending you over just like this and laying his hands on you.

He dips down to suck at your folds, tonguing your arousal from your core. This is his, now and forever. He unlatches his hot mouth from your heat and splays a new handprint over your asscheek to replace the one laid there before. It’s rough and passionate, a lot harder than he spanked you before.

You gasp at the sudden switch. You’re liking his dominant side, but it took you by surprise. “Oof—Baby, not so hard!” You raise your hand to rub at the welt now raising on your skin.

“Ready, Noona?” He pumps his hard cock in his fist. “Can I?"

“Mhm.” You want to let him have his way. Like many of his other surprising qualities, he’s very good at taking control. “…but be a good boy and put on a condom, okay?”

The mere suggestion is an insult to his good nature. If you want him, you’re getting all of him.

“No, Y/n.” His voice is stern.

You just assumed he didn’t hear you correctly, so you say it again. “You need a condom, Kookie. They’re in the drawer, to the right—“

“No, Noona. Doesn’t…feel good.” It’s not a lie, he never preferred the feeling of latex. However, he’s determined to make a mess of you that he never could with a condom. He wants to feel you hug all of him inside your tight walls, milking everything he has to give.

You want him so badly, you give up the fight almost instantly. “Promise you’ll pull out?”

He doesn’t understand your vernacular, but he’ll agree to anything as long as he can finally take you as his. “Okay, Noona.” He glides his tip at your entrance. “Promise.”

He releases a heavy breath as he finally eases in. You adjust your hands exactly where he instructed you earlier as to not receive another spanking. Right now you want no distractions from the heavenly feeling of his hard cock pushing into you, all the way until he’s nested as deep as your body will allow.

“Umpf—“ He groans softly as he begins to pump in and out. You feel him growing even harder once inside of you. He’s curved a little, the tip of his cock brushing gently against your sweet spot, causing pleasurable tingles to run up and down your legs. As he picks up the pace, his voice grows louder, moaning and gasping each time you suck him back in for more.

“Harder,” you beg. “Baby, fuck me harddd, please.” You really love his tender route and you’re sure you’ll have plenty of time to make love in the future, but you need to be claimed.

“Patient.”

“But Kookie—“

“Shh.” He holds his hand on your back and lets his bodyweight push you deeper into the mattress, raising your ass higher, giving him an even deeper angle to push in and out of your cunt. He touches each of your hands as a reminder to hold tight. If you want to get fucked, he’ll do it his way.

Steadily he begins driving into you harder. One hand remains on your back and the other grips you tightly at the waist. In and out, harder and harder, he’s sliding into you with such force that you lose track of which way is up. You close your eyes tight and listen to the erotic sounds leaving his mouth. He’s getting so loud you’re positive he’s woken at least one of your neighbors.

“J-jungkookie fuck, it’s so good baby boy. The way you use your big cock…”

“Like it?” He pries, knowing your answer before you’ve even processed it. He feels you tighten around him and it’s the first time he falters, unsure of how much longer he can go. 

“Scream, Noona.” He slips into Korean, too transfixed on railing into your tight pussy to do much else. “Scream my name. Squirt on my cock. Show me how bad you want me. F-fuck—it’s too good.”

You let go of all inhibition and begin panting his name each time he pushes into you. “Jungkook, Kookie, Kookie, baby yesss!—God…I’m almost…shit…” You let go of one of your ankles and quickly rub circles against your swollen clit. 

You’re so wet, easing your fingers to glide over and over until you can’t control your muscles. “I’m close, baby. I’m gonna…yeah, I’m gonna…you should pull…AH!” You’re caught off guard by your orgasm as it washes over you, powerful and blinding. You twitch involuntarily, streaming your own cum all over the younger man’s length. It’s only happened to you a couple times before, and never with a partner.

“Holy shit, Noona, oh fuck—you squirted all over me, that’s so hot. I’m c-cumming, Jesus, it’s just too good…” He holds you tight as he releases into you, digging his fingers in your hips with bruising force. “Take all of me…take it all. It’s yours. I love you so much…” He pumps the last bit of his seed into your clenching pussy, struggling to stay upright. Once he’s sure he’s released everything, he falls to your side and lovingly watches you roll onto your side. 

He’s happy to see your face but is met with quite a serious expression.

“Bad boy.” You scold and lightly grip his face in your hand. You make him look you in the eyes. “Did I give you permission to cum in me?”

Jungkook tilts his head at you and confusedly searches your eyes. “Cum?”

“Your mess, bunny.” You motion between your legs. Your cheeks warm as his eyes widen at the revelation.

“Oh, uh…N-no.”

“What did I say?” You cup his cheek in your palm and lovingly thumb over a thin scar embedded in his flesh.

“You told me. Uh…pull out.”

You nod and pet the back of his fluffy hair. He melts under your touch. It’s hard to stay mad at him for long. He knows better, but you understand he gets lost in his own world.

“Sorry…”

You draw his face down to your pussy, now creamy and dripping with his seed. “Clean up your mess, bunny.”

Jungkook faithfully crawls down your body and worships kisses down your flushed breasts, belly and inner thighs. He hovers over your sensitive clit and licks a teasing stripe up the center, earning a desperate moan of oversensitivity from your lips.

“Noona, you’re so sticky.” He laps your inner labia into his mouth and suckles a rope of thick white cum. He pulls up and brings his lips to yours.

“What are you—“

Just as you open your mouth to speak, he snakes in his tongue to feed you a taste.

“Mm…K-kook!” You gasp as he presses his tongue in deep, forcing you to swallow it down. His essence coats your throat. It’s still warm and tingles your tastebuds with fresh musk.

He presses a hot and breathy kiss against your lips. “Don’t you love it?” He’s speaking in Korean; a course whisper. His hungry eyes absorb your stunned expression.

He hooks a couple fingers down to gather more. You tense around the long digits as he slides in, pushing the fluid in deeper, then pulling out and bringing it up to examine closely. Your eyes widen as he takes one finger and licks it clean.

“Open.” He instructs. And you do, holding your eyes on his as you lay out your tongue. He pushes his other finger in and out of your mouth, making you salivate around his long digit, coaxing you to suck it clean. You comply and bob your head obediently, taking his finger as deep as you can, feeling your skin ignite with new heat.

The rate in which he switches from the sweetest baby boy to a grown man gives you whiplash. 

You’re used to calling the shots at the shop, but he makes it so easy to give up control. You don’t want it anymore. You want him to have it all. You tell him what he needs to hear. You want him to feel the truth in every word and know you need this just as bad.

He pulls out of your mouth to let you speak and pats your cheek dotingly with his palm.

“Tell me…you love it.” He presses his palms against the inside of your thighs to open you up further. Your muscles contract, causing a dribble of cum to slide down your lips. You don’t shy when he nips his bottom lip between his teeth and groans at the sight. “Filled up for me.”

“I do, Kookie.” You confess, embarrassed, hiding your face in your palms. But you know he lives to hear the words tumble past your lips. “I love feeling you inside me.”

He smiles wide, showcasing his big bunny teeth. It’s the most genuine and adorable sight that you’ll never get used to, already feeling your heart thud. You tug on his arm to cover your body with his. You wait until he’s cuddled safely in your embrace, his strong arms hugging you close in return. “I love you, Jungkook.”

His chin rests on your chest, balancing the weight of his head so he can look up at you with stars in his eyes. “I love you too, Noona.” He scoots forward to softly kisses your plush lips, slow and gentle, living in the moment. “Can I…uh. Can I still…work…with you?” He places another kiss at the curve of your cheek. “With Hyung too?”

“Of course you can, baby.” You thumb over his scar and place a kiss at the tip of his nose. You look over at your bedside vanity and nod over to the two paintings you adore the most. “But you have to really promise me that you’ll keep following your dreams. You can’t be an art school dropout. I won’t allow it.”

He rolls his eyes, a tsk slipping out of his pursed lips. “Yes, Mom.”

“I’m just saying, baby boy.” You give him a little pinch at the back of the arm; a subtle reminder to never roll his eyes at his Noona. “Never stop fighting.”

He catches a glimpse of what you’re referring to—the little note he wrote to you on the sketch of the espresso machine. 

He wraps you even tighter in his arms and smatters your face with a shower of kisses. His eyes lift to adorable crescents as his teeth poke out in a pleased smile. “Okay, Noona.” He gives you one last kiss and holds it there, with feeling. You’re what he’s needed, and now, he has you. 

“Always fighting.”

“Always?”

“For you, Noona. Always.”

You trudge to the backroom and cut open boxes of cups, pulling them free to start stacking them on a steel shelf. Such a waste of time.

Seokjin was not only your business partner. He is your housemate and best friend from college. You know him like the back of your hand.

The two of you met at your university’s Young Entrepreneur’s workshop and immediately clicked after a lengthy conversation about your shared dream to run a coffee shop. After graduation, the two of you you worked hard at odd jobs and pulled your money together (plus a generous investment from Jin’s parents) and started your dream as business owners.

Running your own shop was gratifying in many ways but restricting in many others. While the two of you loved the freedom of self-employment, you were constantly struggling to find good help. The kids in your town were either too self-assured to do hard work, or too inexperienced, causing more work for both of you in the long-run.

Exhibit A: Jungkook. Your best friend hired the kid after a rocky interview. He understands English well enough but struggles to speak it. Jin claimed that he saw promise in him—A “glimmer of potential,” as he put it. Honestly, you believed Jin saw a bit of himself in Jungkook, relating to him on a personal level since he also struggled to learn English at one point. “Just give him a chance,” Jin pleaded. You begrudgingly agreed and have regretted it ever since.

“I just don’t get it.”

“I know, Y/n. It’s just…he’s so eager to learn. He really likes working for us,” Jin whispers, pulling you into the back alley to speak privately.

“He’s a really good barista, I’ll give him that. But Jin, we need someone who can speak with the customers—“

“—and he will. Let’s just give him a little longer to pick it up,” Jin clasps his hands together. He knows how this little gesture gets you every time; his full bottom lip protruding out, eyes wide and begging. “He’s a good kid. Come onnnn.”

You sigh, nodding your approval for the third time this month.

“Fine, but I get to hire the next one.”

Jin beams. “Sounds good to me. But there won’t be a ‘next one’.”

Humph. “We’ll see.”

As far as you could remember, Jin has had a habit of taking in strays, as you so lovingly referred to them. Stray employees, stray friends, stray lovers. He made quick relationships with everyone he met because he only saw the good in them. He had a big puppy heart and you loved him for it, but he could be so incredibly naive.

Once, he fell in love with this girl in college. She was drop-dead gorgeous, lost in life and brand new on campus. You noticed her as she sat alone, timidly crossing her delicate ankles and smoking Virginia Slims like a posh 50’s housewife. “Check out this lamb,” you commented, jabbing Jin in the ribs. That was the first and last thing you said to him before he fell under her spell. Her eyes hooked into his and beckoned him closer with the siren song of daddy issues, helplessness and the hallowed pit of despair that could only be filled with the cocks of strangers.

At this point in life, to say “I told you so” would be painstakingly redundant. This is why you held your tongue when Jin hired Jungkook. Let him figure this out on his own, you thought. There had been countless times when you bailed Jin out of uncomfortable situations that his big dumb heart got himself into. This time, you loosened the reigns.

When he poured his soul into Miss Virginia Slims—mended her heart and made her whole again; you sugar-coated the cracks in his breaking heart after she left. “She’s new to the area. Probably just needs time to find herself,” you lied. But it wasn’t a blatant lie. You knew she was finding herself, but with the help of her young and attentive therapist tucked neatly between her milky smooth thighs.

Days marched on as they always do; slow and rhythmic, with an occasional hiccup that demands emergency triage.

“I specifically asked for OAT milk. I’m allergic to almonds!” A berry-faced woman spouts hysterically at Jungkook. He shrinks from the espresso machine and allows Jin to step in his place.

“Take five, Kook. I’ve got this.”

Jungkook bows his head apologetically at the woman and steps into the back room. He paces nervously around boxes of paper cups and decides to shakily wash dishes in the stainless steel sink.

The rabid woman can be heard clearly from the back room, calling Jungkook all sorts of names he doesn’t understand. You join him in the back and sit on a nearby stool, tucking your feet on the footrest.

“She lies.” Jungkook greets you sullenly.

“Yeah?”

“She is not allergic.” He responds in Korean. “Sorry. Uh…she’s…not allergic.” His face crinkles in a slight scowl, clearly shaken by the shouting. “I can tell.”

You rock lightly on the stool and try not to smile. In moments like this, you can really see his age. He takes his anger out on the dishes, splashing water onto his apron as he scrubs bright red lipstick smudges off of a coffee mug.

“I hate when women cake on that junk. Who wears hooker-red lipstick at 6am anyway?” You snort and try to lift the mood.

Jungkook looks at you with a quirked eyebrow. “H-hooker?”

“Sex worker. It’s a derogatory term.” You shake your head and wave him off. “Never mind.”

He scrubs at the stain roughly until the ceramic gleams.

“How can you tell she’s lying?”

“I used soy.” He looks down at the dishes and scrubs steadily, then tilts his almond eyes to see you shake away an amused grin.

“Kook, you can’t do that.”

The balls on this kid. And here you were thinking he was a complete dunce. It’s hard to stay mad when he made your least favorite customer look like a hysterical fool in front of her friends, but this is your reputation on the line. If people start thinking you can’t get a simple latte order right, they’ll easily move their business to one of the many chain establishments within a five-mile radius.

He plops a scrubbed mug into the sanitizing machine and flicks it on.

“She was mean to you.”

He’s not wrong. You were working the register when miss berry and her pack of yes-women came into the shop, commenting on how the decor didn’t match the “vibe.” She annoyed the shit out of you, but who doesn’t? However, she really worked your last nerve when she complained about the lack of chestnut praline syrup, toying with the idea of mentioning it in her Yelp review.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s a paying customer.”

Jungkook sits on the sanitizing machine and faces you, still rocking on your stool. He crosses his arms across his chest. “You looked…frustrated.”

“I’m always frustrated.”

He quirks an eyebrow and straightens his hunched posture on the sanitizer. He either doesn’t believe you or he’s trying to process what you just said.

“Sorry. I’ll do better,” he says solemnly.

He tilts back his head to shake his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. It’s not too long, but it sweeps across his forehead and peeks just past his eyebrows to tickle his lashes. When he first started working for you and Jin, he had a mop of fluffy hair that hung over his face and often covered his eyes completely. You thought it suited his shy personality, but the way he wears it now shows off his youthful freckles, chiseled jawline, and a thin scar, high on his left cheek.

“Thank you, but don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Beat…myself?”

“Don’t worry.” You flash him a thumbs-up, a universal sign that everything is okay.

“Okay.” He returns your gesture with his big thumb.

“Oh, and Kook?”

“Yes?”

You point to his upturned thumb, which has a prominent smudge of red lipstick just at the back. “You missed a spot.”

He shivers in disgust and wipes it on his apron. His hand rubs roughly, only smearing the lipstick further. You both share a laugh, loud enough that Jin pokes his head from behind the doorway.

“I heard Y/n laughing. Something must be wrong.”

You pick up a washrag and toss it at him, but you’re such a bad throw that it pathetically falls to the floor two feet away. Jin dodges dramatically like you’re about to hit him with something powerful, which only makes Jungkook laugh harder until he almost slips off the sanitizer.

“Get out of here, Kim. We’re having a moment.”

Jin puts his hands up and retreats back behind the doorway. Jungkook’s dabs the corner of his eye with his sleeve as his laughter dies down.

Your eyes keep skimming the scar on his cheek when he smiles. How haven’t you noticed it? Suppose it’s not noticeable unless you’re close enough, which you haven’t been before.

“How did this happen?” You motion to the placement of his scar on your own cheek. He mimics the motion and grazes the thin line gently.

“This? Oh—hah.” He rolls his eyes. “Stupid.”

Now you’re really curious. “How stupid?”

“Very.”

You raise your eyebrow and smile at him. He sighs and walks over to the computer behind you.

“You know computer games?”

It’s hard not to be amused by his question. You have to admit, this is not where you saw the conversation going. “Heard of them.”

Jungkook sighs again. “I was, hm, what’s the word?” He jabs at the air in front of him with boxing jabs.

“Boxing?”

“No—oh, fighting!”

“Fighting? You were you fighting?”

His story is becoming animated suddenly. A dopy smile curls across his lips, exposing his large bunny teeth. It’s a trait you’ve always found a little endearing even when he annoys the living shit out of you sometimes.

“My hyung.”

You quirk your head, a little confused. You recall Jin using the word before, referring to his family.

“Brother?”

He nods. “Older brother.”

“So you fought your older brother…over computer games?”

He nods proudly and laughs at the memory. “See? Stupid.”

“Who won? You?”

He flexes his bicep and rests his arm on the computer monitor triumphantly. “Duh.”

You can’t suppress your laughter at his blatant confidence. It’s nice to see this side of him.

“I didn’t know you have a brother. I haven’t seen your parents either. Do they live here in town?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “In Korea.”

“You’re by yourself then?”

“I live with…a…hm. Friend? Family friend.” He finishes the sentence in his native language, which you actually do understand a bit of, at least enough to know he’s not completely alone.

“If your family is all the way in Korea then why did you leave?”

He holds one hand out like a piece of paper and uses the other to illustrate a painting motion. “Study art.”

You can’t help but drop open your mouth, just a bit. “You’re an artist?” He’s college-aged, but for some naive reason, you just assumed he was working to pay the bills. It didn’t occur to you that he was pursuing something outside these walls.

He nods proudly and walks over to his shoulder bag, slung on the back of the back room door. You’re absolutely lost for words when he pulls out a stack of watercolors, some still-life and others painted beautifully from memory. You wordlessly palm through portraits of familiar faces like Old Lady Faye who usually sits by the bay window and sips chamomile tea. There’s even a pencil sketch of the espresso machine, so real it could pop off the paper and make lattes.

“Kook, these are outstanding.” You look up at his expectant face; lips closed in a concentrated line, wide eyes trained to meet your gaze. “You’re very talented. I had no idea.”

“You like it?”

“A lot. Does Jin know about this?”

He nods his head slowly.

Jin and his big dumb heart. Of course he knows. This glimmer of potential he saw in Jungkook makes so much sense now and you feel a little dumb not catching on earlier.

Jungkook lifts the watercolors from your lap and neatly files them back into his shoulder bag, careful not to bend the corners. He holds a painting aside, scribbles something at the bottom corner and hands it to you with a smile.

“For you, Noona.”

It’s the pencil sketch of the espresso machine, now etched with his signature and a little note:

Always Fighting! -JK