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The funny thing is, you wait for a sign And then ten come along A swing and a miss It never rains but it pours
— Eye of the Storm
  Park Jimin knocks on CEO Min’s door twice and waits. CEO Min always takes his time to answer, as if he’s busy working, but Jimin knows better. The guy’s a workaholic if you count his side music hustle. But his actual job? The guy’s a master delegator.“Come in.”Jimin lets himself in promptly and shuts the door with a light snap.“Jiminie.”“At your service, sir.”Jimin isn’t one of the people (cough VPs cough department managers) the CEO delegates his work to. No, Jimin’s the poor soul tasked to sort out the CEO’s laundry, order food for the CEO, get the CEO’s suits dry cleaned occasionally, schedule the CEO’s meetings, and once: dogsit the CEO’s only child, Min Holly, yada yada. Min Yoongi is lucky that Jimin loves dogs and the little toy poodle is so precious. Jimin doesn’t think his personal assistant contract includes personal tasks.Truth be told, Jimin doesn’t mind. He enjoys sorting out Min Yoongi’s professional life - it’s kind of like living it without the commitment and consequences. In the day, he gets to step in a CEO’s shoes without having to interact directly with the pompous topdogs from Minstradamus’ trading partners. He gets the satisfaction of whipping out a black card and sashaying into luxury stores and boutiques and judging old businessmen with none of the responsibility. And in the evenings, he gets to cuddle up to his boyfriend.His boyfriend, who, coincidentally, is one of the VPs of Minstradamus.Jimin loves working in central Seoul too, within Minstradamus HQ’s glass walls and fine architecture. He loves flitting in among the busy men and women whose hands are perpetually gripping their phones or cups of coffee. There is a sense of importance working here. And with it is the need to dress the part.“Is that a new outfit?” Min Yoongi eyes Jimin from head to toe with a little frown on his forehead as if fashion is a foreign concept to him.“Yes, sir,” Jimin beams shamelessly anyway.“Ah, of course. Your anniversary was last week,” Yoongi remembers idly. “Namjoonie has good taste.”“Namjoon-ssi,” Jimin corrects him in a low murmur.Yoongi rolls his eyes. “There is literally no one here to overhear us, for the thousandth time.”“You have to practise formalities, or risk slipping up when there are people around,” Jimin replies bossily, abandoning his professional persona in favour of telling off his friend. Pauses. “Sir.”Yoongi simply shakes his head this time. “Namjoon-ssi has good taste, then.”“Sorry, wrong again,” Jimin replies cheerfully. “I picked it, so I have good taste.”He flicks the tiny little scarf around his neck. The silk flutters prettily in the periphery of his vision. He knows it looks good around his slim neck and brings attention to his collarbones that he’s left exposed. Paired with the fitting pale gold shirt and white slacks, Park Jimin exudes sensuality and confidence - he belongs to the top floor of one of Korea’s largest conglomerate’s buildings.Yoongi raises an eyebrow. The CEO is dressed more conservatively, in a simple black five-piece suit. His hair is slicked back, leaving only a stray lock to curl teasingly from his hairline towards that judging eyebrow.“Well, that’s good, because I called you in here for your help to get me a new suit.”“Ooh,” Jimin beams even more brightly. One of his favourite tasks as the CEO’s PA. Highly rare, because Min Yoongi doesn’t see the need and lacks the desire to shop much despite rolling in riches. “It’ll be my pleasure, sir. For the opening ceremony, I presume?”“Yes, it turns out you were right,” says Yoongi reluctantly.“That you don’t own a single Valentino suit?” Jimin smirks.“I didn’t even realise I liked LV that much,” Yoongi muses.“You don’t. All your LV suits are from that campaign they did with us.”“Oh. In that case, I don’t seem to recall a campaign we did with Dior to explain those suits.”“We didn’t, just my personal favourite brand,” Jimin grins. “Anything else, sir?”Yoongi huffs. “Yes, please just sort out these last few tasks for the event. Operator Marketing should be dealing with them, but they’re in a tight spot at the moment because of the deal with the cinema…”“And they fell upon you?” Jimin asks incredulously. No one in the company would dare assign tasks to the CEO.“Of course not. I volunteered. Pretty sure my PA would be more than happy to work on them. Don’t worry, it’s only a few. Here, I just dropped the list in our shared folder.” Yoongi clicks loudly on his mouse for emphasis.This is potentially beyond his pay grade, but it must be good if CEO Min had volunteered Jimin for it. Curiously, Jimin taps the folder open and brings up the word document onto the screen of the tablet he’s holding.“Select cupcakes, delegate roles and teams on duty for the night…” Okay, he has to admit those sound fun. But his eyes nearly fall out of his head when they catch the last bullet point. “Finalise deal with Ethereal.”Yoongi is smirking at him. He feels faint. Professionalism gone out the window, he breathes, “Hyung. Oh my god are you serious!”“Was I right?”“Yes!” Jimin squeals, excited. Ethereal, the latest sensation to sweep the nation. The four-member band whose range of genres covered by their songs are more colourful than the rainbow itself.Jimin loves Ethereal. So does his Namjoon. The crowd at the opening ceremony of their latest mall will love Ethereal. Jimin can see their event already a success, positive reviews splashed over influencers’ blogs and the lifestyle section of newspapers countrywide.“Can you handle it?” Yoongi asks. “Let me know if I should hand it back to Operator Marketing and get them to complete it through whatever means necessary.”“I got it,” Jimin assures him, still dizzy.Yoongi finally stands from his desk and rounds the large table he’s been sitting behind. His posture is slightly hunched, as it always is, as if there’s a fragile little biscuit in the front pocket of his suit jacket he’s trying to protect. He stops in front of Jimin and thumps his PA on the back.“Thanks, Jimin-ah. You get an additional off-day for this, okay?”“No worries, sir. But I accept the off-day.”Yoongi chuckles, and heads towards the door, Jimin turning quickly on his heels to follow him. “Let’s go for lunch.”One thing that Jimin respects is that Yoongi always stops whatever he’s doing mid-day for lunch. It’s a good sign for the staff, Namjoon confirmed once, to see their big boss taking a break everyday. It also leaves the building boss-free for at least an hour, and although people don’t necessarily dislike their CEO, there is a rather intimidating air about him that have people breathing a little shortly when he’s in the vicinity. That, and Min Yoongi is undoubtedly a good-looking man.It shows, as usual, today as they leave the CEO’s office and walk past Jimin’s cubicle outside, finally seeing the rest of the floor. Admin and Finance sit on this floor, and many of them are moving around, since it’s already lunch time, and they all bow and greet the duo respectfully as they pass. Many of them try to subtly check the duo out, but of course Jimin notices. He has a third eye for this sort thing, and he smirks slightly as he walks past them.His relationship status with Namjoon won’t stop them from staring, of course, nor will Yoongi’s place sitting prettily on the top rung of the corporate ladder. Everyone knows Jimin’s taken, and CEO Min’s reputation of being socially closed-off, unavailable to anyone in favour of his very busy schedule has gone round the whole organisation. But such knowledge makes no dent on their attractiveness. So people stare, and both CEO and PA are used to this.“Choi’s?” Jimin suggests once they’ve completed the short walk to the elevator lobby.“Yeah, sure. Ask Namjoon along, will you?”“Okay.”Pleased, Jimin pulls out his phone to shoot his boyfriend a text. As Chief of Staff, Namjoon’s a busy man, but his schedule is less erratic than the other VPs’, so it’s likely that he’ll be able to take his lunch at the same time.The duo chatter easily in the elevator, go quiet when the elevator picks up other staff on the way down from the thirteenth floor, and continue their conversation once outside.The restaurant is walking distance from the modest head office of Minstradamus, a place Jimin knows Yoongi likes patronising because it sits in the middle of a lush park.“What music are you working on now?” Jimin asks once they’re safely out of Minstradamus property. Outside, CEO Min Yoongi is Yoongi hyung, the weight of running his family’s business off his shoulders.“I’m just asked to write a beat and an accompanying melody,” Yoongi is happy to share. Music always makes him happy. “They’re gonna write their own lyrics. And then they’re gonna do their own mixing and engingeering, so my hands are off once I turn this in.”“Which music act? A group?”Yoongi shrugs, as they enter the restaurant and make way to their usual seats. “No idea. Jaesang hyung didn’t tell. Says they’re discreet.”Jimin scoffs, “Wanting to keep ghost composers on the down low and hog all the limelight, I presume.”“Perhaps that’s their main intention. Jaesang hyung says they’re a popular group, though, so maybe they just want to keep the fuss away and avoid any leaks.”“Hmm, maybe. Wait, that means we might get to hear your stuff on the radio?”Yoongi laughs, “If that band is mainstream. Who knows it’s for some other project.”“Maybe it’s for a certain conglomerate’s new jingle,” Jimin teases him, giggling. “Played in all 39 malls and office buildings from nine to five.”Yoongi groans, resting his forehead on his fist, elbow on the table. “I will actually quit. As if having my song playing on that game isn’t enough.”“I loved that game,” Jimin reminisces. “Imagine if people find out producer Agust D is actually CEO of the biggest company in South Korea.”Yoongi glares at him, but it only gets Jimin laughing harder.“Then my father will probably kill me,” Yoongi mutters, flipping through the menu.Jimin clucks his tongue. “I’ll kill you first, imagine poor Namjoonie hyung having to deal with finding a new CEO, and answering to your father and co.”Yoongi smirks, “Namjoon can probably handle them better than I can.”“Handle what?”For such a tall and strapping guy, he comes up to the duo sitting at their booth very silently.“Hyung!” Jimin cheers, scooting over to make space.“The real bosses,” Yoongi replies Namjoon.Namjoon barks a laugh as Jimin fusses with his jacket. “Suddenly talking about them? I thought we’re having a nice lunch.”“Long story,” Yoongi waves a hand. “We were just joking around.”“Daring of you to joke around about they-who-must-not-be-named,” Namjoon comments, eyes glued to the menu.“Yoongi hyung was telling me about his new project,” Jimin supplies helpfully.“Oh,” Namjoon looks up, his eyes alighting with interest from behind his thick glasses. “What new project?”“Discreet,” Jimin huffs, making air quotation marks with his fingers. He taps a finger on the page of the menu that Namjoon has got open. “I want jajjangmyeon.”“Oh, me too, babe,” Namjoon hums, shutting the menu.Yoongi flags the waiter over to order, and the server knows them enough to charge it to Yoongi’s account before providing them with complementary water and tea. Conversation settles into more work-related topics, like deals in discussion with demanding clients and some general staff gossip.Jimin loves these lunches with his friends. Although he met Namjoon first and fell head over heels at first sight - in the library, of all places - he got along well with Yoongi astonishingly fast as well. Which must be susprising, Jimin thinks, to someone as reclusive and reserved as Yoongi who takes years to let people into his life. But Jimin knows he’s just got a way with people, so to him, Yoongi’s the one who’s the rare find - Jimin hardly meets people with a passionate dislike for eye contact, and he can’t help but regard the stoic CEO with fondness as he tries to escape Jimin’s random displays of affection.It’s also how he got this job, being one of the few people Yoongi was comfortable enough to have around constantly. Namjoon, of course, was already working his way up in the HR department even before Yoongi ascended the throne - sorry, assumed his CEO position - a couple of years ago. So, really, his career fell into place as his social circle expanded to fit in his new boyfriend and said boyfriend’s long-time friend and colleague.Once Jimin started working at Minstradamus, he began to really understand how Yoongi got his hard as nails reputation that he kept hearing from Namjoon. Yoongi’s steely gaze, indifferent resting expression, deep voice - all of them scream authority. Yoongi’s personality is also withdrawn, having no interest in proactively looking for new relationships beyond what he already has. Add his side music gig to his already full schedule, dating is off the books.“I only have time for a night, and that’s it,” Yoongi had told Jimin flatly when Jimin tried to set him up on a date, all of two years ago.“But what about finding a lifelong partner?” Jimin had argued. “Surely that’s not something you can buy from Coupang?”“You’d never know in 10 years. 10 years ago food delivery only existed from physically calling in. Did you know growth of food delivery through apps - as big as it is now - only gained momentum 5 years ago, and only boomed 3 years ago?”“Don’t try to distract me with your random facts.”Yoongi had pretended to be annoyed, but the slight press of his lips together told Jimin he was keeping from laughing. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not interested.”Jimin thinks there’s hope though. Yoongi’s a romantic in disguise, he theorises. Where else does his music-making get inspiration from? Yoongi has a soul, deep inside, surely some space for love in his heart.It’s just about being at the right place at the right time.For Jimin, that was the seventh floor of their city’s library on a Saturday afternoon, three years ago.  From: Park Jimin <[email protected]>To: [email protected]Date: 27-03-23Subject: FW: Performance for MinCoMall Opening CeremonyDear Kim Seokjin-saiI hope you are warm and well.This is Park Jimin from Minstradamus where I work as Personal Assistant to the CEO. Your correspondence has been passed to me from Kim Dahyun-ssi, my colleague from Operator Marketing. Apologies that Dahyun-ssi was not able to introduce me to you herself, but I will be your point of contact from now on as we approach the event.I understand that you have provided her with your team’s verbal agreement on headlining our event on 17-06-23. Please find the documents attached if you and your band members could docu-sign them.We are hoping for the contract to be finalised by next week, 03-04-23 so that we can proceed with making arrangements for your stage. I anticipate your busy schedule given your success (deserved! big fan!) so kindly let me know if you foresee any delays.Please also let us know who we should be liaising with for the logistics and promotional details. If you have any queries feel free to let me know.Thank you once again for gracing our event and I personally look forward to meeting you!Best wishesPark JiminPersonal Assistant to the CEOMinstradamus Co  From: JIN of ETHEREAL <[email protected]>To: [email protected]Date: 28-03-23Subject: RE: FW: Performance for MinCoMall Opening CeremonyHello Park Jimin-ssiThank you for the well wishes. It’s cold but nothing beats the year I enlisted - being without my members was terribly chilling, even without winter. I hope you are keeping warm too.The docu-signed contracts are attached. Our band manages our own stages and sets, so, kindly share a mobile number we could contact. One of our members will be in touch next week once we finalise the setlist.As for queries my members have a few below
V wants to know, since we understand from Kim Dahyun-ssi that it’s a Valentino-sponsored collaboration, if it’s ok to show up in Celine
j-hope is asking if Minstradamus happens to own a music studio or a practice room nearby
JK is requesting BBQ recommendations in your new mall
Please don’t be obliged to answer every question, but we’d be grateful for your personal opinion compared to searching on Naver.I’ll look forward to thanking you, your CEO and Kim Dahyun-ssi for your kind invitation, in person. See you soon!YoursKim Seokjin (JIN of ETHEREAL)  From: Park Jimin <[email protected]>To: [email protected]Date: 28-03-23Subject: RE: RE: FW: Performance for MinCoMall Opening CeremonyDear Kim Seokjin-ssiHonestly, I spent half a day thinking how I should respond because your little anecdote short-circuited my brain. Did I mention I’m a big fan? Just slightly bigger than big. Maybe mega. So please understand I’ll just reply to your queries.
Yes, V-ssi is welcome (and personally encouraged) to show up in whichever brand he prefers, even his own designs
Minstradamus does not own a music studio, but our new mall does have a studio belonging to one of our partners. We will be happy to share with you more details over phone call. I know the owner and I’m certain he’ll be happy for you to ‘break it in’
I’m attaching a top-5 list by our Chief of Staff. He’s a huge fan of meats, so I’m sure JK will have a good time
Happy to take any other questions. My mobile number is 82-010-1306-1310. Look forward to hearing from you and/or your team and setting up a great stage!PS don’t worry I signed an NDA upon joining the company.Best wishesPark Jimin  Hi! We are ETHEREAL ✨JIN, j-hope, V, JKETHEREAL @etherealmusic:jin-hyung just spelled our band name as EATHEREAL. it’s been six years. i’m starting to think he’s doing it on purpose #JJK22-03-23, 02:18PM220.6K comments, 628K retweets, 1.9M likes↪︎ or maybe he’s hungry? 🤔 -V↪︎↪︎ or maybe i’m a bad speller??? JIN↪︎↪︎ jjwan! 😟 you’re not a bad speller, i love how you spell things differently 😙💕 -hobi↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎ sorry jwaehope, tae’s right, maybe i’m just hungry. JIN↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎ 🤭🤭🤭 #JJK #V↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎↪︎ 🥰😌💕🔥 -hobi ETHEREAL @etherealmusic:self hair dying :)<mirror selfie of JK in the studio with freshly dyed blue hair>25-03-23, 01:09PM530.1K comments, 1.4M retweets, 2.9M likes ETHEREAL @etherealmusic:<15-sec clip of V just staring into the camera>26-03-23, 12:31PM480.2K comments, 825K retweets, 2.1M likes ETHEREAL @etherealmusic:<retweet of Minstradamus’ announcement of ETHEREAL headlining the company’s exclusive by-invite-only event>29-03-23,  04:12PM723.2K comments, 1.5M retweets, 2.7M likes  “How’s the event prep going?” Yoongi asks Jimin as soon as they convene in a small conference room the next day.“Perfect,” Jimin chirps. “I’ve got my next date with Namjoonie booked, we’re going cupcake tasting.”Yoongi gives him an amused grin, eyes leaving his laptop screen for a moment. “Bet he likes that.”“Ecstatic,” Jimin confirms gleefully. “Every department manager has also been sent a memo to confirm three to five of their team members to participate in our event, and we have a committee meeting pencilled in next week to confirm the roles.”“Excellent.”“And last but not least,” Jimin says dramatically, throwing his arms wide. “Ethereal’s all set to check out your studio next week.”“Oh, right,” Yoongi clicks through his packed calendar with a small frown, unfazed by the news. “Monday evening?”“Right,” Jimin rocks back in his chair, looking blissed out. “They’ll be practising there until d-day - almost everyday, I’ve been told.”“Yeah, sure,” Yoongi waves a hand uncaringly. “No one uses it except me anyways, since we haven’t officially opened.”“Alright,” says Jimin, but gives him a stern look, “Just don’t forget the time they’ve booked it for if you want to keep your super-secret, mysterious, music producing identity on the down low.”Yoongi snorts. “What are the chances?”  ♫Let’s live like we’re immortal Live just for tonight We’ll think about tomorrow, yeah when the sun comes up Cause by this time tomorrow, we’ll be talking about tonight Keep doing what we want, we want, we want No more wasted nights
— Wasted Nights
  Chances of bumping into Ethereal in his studio are pretty high, it seems. Or maybe Yoongi’s just unlucky like that.It’s not Yoongi’s fault - it’s late at night and it’s easy to lose track of time. Thankfully, he’s not deep in the zone. He’s sitting at the piano, letting his fingertips find their own melody, the day’s stresses long eased out from his fingers. He doesn’t hear the door open, or the light footsteps stop.He only realises someone is there when he gets the feeling like he’s being watched.He turns, and— whoa. He’s caught off-guard for a second because the man standing there is pretty. Yoongi’s first impression is that the unexpected visitor is delicate looking, all lean based on his frame; he’s drowning in a baggy black t-shirt and dark jeans.He’s about to find his voice to ask who the guy is and why he’s here at such a late hour when the man beats him to it.“Hello, sorry to interrupt you,” the man bows several times, looking a little flustered. “I’m late…”Jimin’s words come back to Yoongi, and he scrambles off the seat.“I’m sorry, you must be one of the members of Ethereal,” Yoongi feels distinctly embarrassed that he doesn’t know which member this is.Thankfully, the guy isn’t an uppity, arrogant celebrity and simply smiles warmly at him. “Yes, my name is j-hope.”The name does ring a bell, but Yoongi still has no clue which instrument he plays. Regardless, he says, “Nice to meet you.”He goes closer and thinks a little belatedly that the band’s name suits this guy - he has a sharp nose and high cheekbones that are indeed otherworldly. He has black hair that’s a little long and curly, just loosely framing his slender face.“Nice to meet you too,” j-hope says, with a hesitant smile. “Are you the owner of the studio?”“Ah, well, yes, yes I am.”“Oh!” j-hope lights up at that, and Yoongi is fascinated when his smile blooms into a full heart-shaped one, revealing a perfect set of teeth. “Thank you so much for letting us use it. I’m sorry again, there was a delay on the road and we had to cancel this evening’s practice… I was just taking my chances, dropping by. I wanted to get a look before we officially begin practice tomorrow.”Yoongi had no idea the band had cancelled their initial plans to come in this evening. Jimin’s in charge of all this, after all. It doesn’t make much difference to Yoongi because either way he can only come here well into the night.“No problem,” Yoongi assures the guy anyway. He fights the urge to shift on his feet, his CEO persona taking over his natural tendency to shy away when meeting someone new. He needs to be hospitable to his guests. “Come on, let me show you around, then.”They exchange short pleasantries after that, and Yoongi finds out j-hope’s real name and gives his. It’s a bit of a relief, still, that the man doesn’t seem to realise he’s the same Min Yoongi who runs Minstradamus - not just this studio but the entire building (and many more) - and is essentially the man who hired Ethereal to perform.“So, I heard your band writes your own songs?” says Yoongi, once he’s taken the guy round the studio and showed him how to plug in and set up the individual instrument booths. He mentally thanks Jimin for one of his rants about the band, Yoongi has something to base on for conversation.(It’s memorable, he has to admit, because Ethereal is interesting - they’ve got a keyboardist, a guitarist, a violinist and a drummer. No bassist.“I play bass, but my EG’s in most songs,” Jung Hoseok had explained when Yoongi mentioned it at the guitar booth. “And our violinist is our secret weapon, so we need him no matter what.”)“Yeah, we write,” Hoseok now answers, looking a little gratified, “We have contributors too, people who help to compose, arrange, mix and produce… But everything goes through us. And we record everything on our own - the instruments, the vocals.”“That’s really cool,” says Yoongi sincerely.He thinks fleetingly of his latest track that might have gone on to some rookie idol group and probably won’t sound as good as he intended it. Ah, well. It’s his fault for choosing to be a ghost composer with no directive rights to his songs. Once it’s sold it’s out of his hands.“Thank you,” Hoseok gives him a small smile in return.The man really is so pretty.“Well, it’s late,” Yoongi says. He’s a little breathless. It must be the way his heart’s pounding. Did he turn off the air conditioning?“Yeah, I should head back. The studio’s way past its closing time…” Hoseok grimaces apologetically.Yoongi smiles at him. “Don’t worry about it, I was here anyway.”“Right.”They look at each other a little longer. Yoongi doesn’t know what to say and why he feels this way, but he doesn’t want to leave.“Alright,” he clears his throat and steps out the door. Hoseok follows suit. Yoongi locks everything up and leads Hoseok down the empty corridors of the mall and down the silent escalator. He nods at the night shift security guard who spots them across the floor.They reach the lobby. Hoseok gestures to the pick up point, outside at the foyer. “This is me.”“Okay, see you again,” Yoongi says, and Hoseok tilts his head in confusion - right. He must be wondering how and when they’d meet again. Yoongi is just the studio owner after all.“Okay,” Hoseok says anyway. “Thank you again, Yoongi-ssi.”Their parting is a little awkward, but Yoongi is still too stunned from being in close proximity with such a pretty man to feel weird about it.When he drives out of the carpark a while later, he sees Hoseok climbing into a van at the foyer’s pick up point - the van must have just arrived. The windows are black tinted for privacy. The van looks like the kind of vehicle celebrities and politicians use.And it occurs to Yoongi that Jung Hoseok indeed is a celebrity and the person thousands of people probably want to meet.It’s probably why he’s attracted, Yoongi decides, shaking his head as he tries to refocus on the road. He just met a celebrity and he’s probably more star-struck than he realises.  Jimin looks a little out of it today, Yoongi notices.His eyes are unfocused, gazing into a faraway distance. If Yoongi doesn’t know any better, he’d think that Jimin’s just daydreaming about Namjoon - he disassociates and goes to the land of the lovesick very rarely but it does happen. But no, this time, Yoongi is pretty sure it’s because—Jimin sighs dreamily.Yoongi second guesses himself. Maybe it is about Namjoon.“So handsome…” Jimin murmurs.Okay, it’s about Namjoon.There is a knock on his office door. Usually Jimin screens visitors, but said PA is in his office right now, daydreaming.So Yoongi calls out, “Come in.”Namjoon walks in.Yoongi glares at him, half-expecting Jimin to throw himself at his boyfriend.But then Namjoon stops in his tracks when he sees Yoongi’s glare, and to Yoongi’s surprise, he glances at Jimin and scowls.“Alright, what’s going on,” Yoongi sighs, massaging his temples.Namjoon huffs and strides over to Yoongi’s desk, but he doesn’t sit in the chair. “He opened your studio for Ethereal today.”Yoongi should have gone with his initial guess.“He didn’t tell me about it when he came in,” he said in amusement. “Sit down, Joon-ah, you don’t have to wait for an invitation, how many times do I have to keep telling the both of you…”Namjoon sits, looking more dejected than annoyed now. “I can’t beat them, can I.”“What are you talking about,” Yoongi grumbles. “He’s obsessed over a bunch of strangers, it’s not the same.”Namjoon sighs and simply lays a folder on the table. The movement does trigger Jimin’s attention, merely a vague glance in Namjoon’s direction.“What is this?” Yoongi asks Namjoon, reaching for the folder.“List of this quarter’s promotions for your approval.”Yoongi makes a happy sound. He likes promoting people. He’s glad that his staff have new opportunities and a promise of growing rice bowls.“Anything else?” He asks Namjoon, peering into the folder. Wow, there’s a whole stack there. He hopes Namjoon included the financial analysis, but more cost going to staff is something Yoongi doesn’t mind at all.“Yes,” Namjoon says, and he gestures at Jimin, pouting. “Is he just going to sit here like this all day?”“He’s your boyfriend,” says Yoongi placidly.“He’s your PA,” Namjoon points out.“And within his rights to sit here all day,” says Yoongi. “Though a little useless at the moment.”“Did you just call my boyfriend useless,” says Namjoon, looking affronted.“Oh now he’s your boyfriend. Go and bring him back to us, please. He’s spending too long in Ethereal land,” Yoongi pauses. Against his better judgment, asks, “What are Ethereal’s fanbase called, anyway?”“Unicorns.”Yoongi cringes. “Okay, take your unicorn with you when you leave.”Namjoon sighs, stands and reaches out to tap Jimin on his shoulder. “Jimin-ah.”Jimin looks up and smiles at Namjoon dreamily, as if continuing a conversation they’re having, “Hyung, you’re handsome too.”Namjoon immediately flushes. Yoongi rolls his eyes but bites back a smile.“The most handsome,” Jimin says earnestly, and he clings to Namjoon’s forearm. “Even more handsome than JIN.”“Okay, now I know you’re lying,” Namjoon says, but he’s trying not to laugh and he looks appropriately pleased.“Did you know that JK is almost as tall as JIN now?” Jimin goes on, tugging Namjoon to sit back down. “He was just a small baby when they debuted. It’s been hard to see his height behind his drumset, and he’s usually clinging to someone in photos, but wow when they’re standing around, he’s actually more imposing in person!”It’s the most Jimin has spoken this morning.“Yeah?” Namjoon plays along, looking fond, despite his grumpiness just minutes ago. They’re a pair of saps, Yoongi decides. “What about V, isn’t he your favourite?”“They’re all my favourite,” Jimin answers immediately. “But yes, V is my most favouritest.”Yoongi snorts. Namjoon shoots him a dirty look.“V looks so serious and intimidating in photos but he’s so warm in person,” Jimin is saying. “He was wearing one of his self-designed jackets and he asked me if I like it—“Jimin chokes on nothing at the memory, and Namjoon awww’s in response. Despite himself and his long list of to-do’s as CEO of a very large corporation, Yoongi can’t help but watch on in amusement. There’s an impatient feeling of trepidation in his gut too, distinctly he feels like he’s waiting for something, hanging onto Jimin’s every word of the tale.“—and JK said he’d try one of the restaurants you recommended!” Jimin finishes with a squeal, and this time his eyes look a bit clearer, as if freshly emerging from memories.Yoongi fusses with the file Namjoon gave him. Continues to wait. Should he prompt Jimin?“JIN was real professional in his emails,” Jimin goes on. “But he was so casual and friendly to me when we met. It kinda felt like they just treated me like an actual human instead of some business contact.”“Sounds charming,” Namjoon comments wryly.“They’re good at this whole people thing,” agrees Jimin. “No wonder there are so many positive testimonials from Unicorns about bumping into them!”Yoongi stamps down the urge to snort again at the mention of the fanbase name. Unicorns, seriously?“Unicorns are right about one other thing too, j-hope is the most surprisingly ethereal one of all.”Finally. Yoongi pauses, ears pricking.“What do you mean, surprisingly?” asks Namjoon.Yes, what do you mean, Jimin? Yoongi echoes in his head.“I mean JIN is literally known as Worldwide Handsome, and V is also known as their other visual. Jungkook has gotten a lot of attention for his looks, probably because he’s grown so much and got all his tattoos and piercings. But relatively, j-hope isn’t particularly known for his looks. People talk more about his personality, rapping and guitar skills.”“Isn’t that a good thing?” Namjoon asks.“Yeah, but that means when people see how good looking he is in real life they get surprised.”“Oh, I get it,” Namjoon says, nodding.Does he? Yoongi frowns. He mindlessly pretends to sift through the paper in his folder. Namjoon wasn’t there, he didn’t experience j-hope’s beauty up close. The way his skin glowed. The way his black hair fell into perfect waves around his slim face. The warm sensation when looking at such a gorgeous, heart-shaped smile—Yoongi looks up when he realises no one is talking.Jimin and Namjoon are staring at him.“What?” he says gruffly.“You just… Sighed,” Namjoon says uncertainly. “You looked the way Jimin did when I walked in here.”Yoongi flushes. Shit. “I did no such thing.”“I swear on all my Ethereal merch that you did,” Jimin says immediately.“We were talking about j-hope,” Namjoon says.Fucking shit. He hopes his face isn’t as red as he thinks it is judging by the heat on his cheeks. “Okay, and?”“And, do you want to add to the conversation?” Jimin is grinning wickedly.“No,” Yoongi says immediately.“I feel like you have something to say.”“No, there’s nothing I want to say.”Namjoon looks perplexed, but Jimin is leaning forward, every trace of his dreaminess gone. He looks every bit the shrewd PA Yoongi hired. Whose smarts, by the way, was never supposed to be directed at Yoongi and threatening to uncover his secrets.“You’re hiding something, Min Yoongi.”“It’s sir to you,” Yoongi says testily.“Spill it, hyung,” Jimin says defiantly.Brat. “Okay, I’m kicking you out of my office now,” Yoongi decides.“You can’t do that.”“I’m literally your boss.”Jimin waves a hand as if physically dismissing his statement. But then he suddenly gasps, and claps a hand to his mouth. Dramatic, as always.“No… Wait. Hyung, did you—?”“Get out of my office.”Namjoon has the decency to stand up and tug Jimin up with him. Now they’re both towering over Yoongi. Great. His office desk isn’t wide enough to put sufficient distance between them. He makes a mental note to ask Jimin to buy him a new desk once this nonsense is over and Jimin is in his right frame of mind again.“You met him.”Yoongi’s traitorous biology betrays him and he knows he’s blushing. Curse Jung Hoseok and his ethereal visuals. And his laugh and his warmth and the way they had gotten on so well just from fifteen minutes of touring a music studio. This kind of encounter doesn’t happen to Yoongi, who is an introvert with a big fat I in bold and italics.“You met him!” Jimin screeches, correctly taking Yoongi’s silence as agreement. “When? Wait. Don’t tell me. At the studio? But they cancelled last minute—“Yoongi needs them out of his office as soon as possible before his face combusts. “Yes, it was at the studio, he dropped by to check it out even after they cancelled, yes we talked, and yes he is ethereal, please go away now.”Even Namjoon laughs, but not as loudly as Jimin who cackles like a demon.Yoongi drops all pretences of doing anything useful to the folder of promotions and folds his arms, pouting.“Oh, I so can’t wait for d-day,” Jimin actually rubs his hands together like one of those disney villains. “I need to see you meet him again.”“I’m calling security on you guys.”“Let’s go, Jimin,” Namjoon tugs his boyfriend gently, still laughing.“Oh, this is delicious,” Jimin finally follows Namjoon to the door.“You’re dismissed for the day, Park Jimin!” Yoongi yells at him.“Min Yoongi’s got a celebrity crush~!” Jimin sing-songs.Yoongi throws the folder at him, but the both of them are already ducking out the door, Jimin’s cackles floating into the room. Yoongi’s office door slams shut, leaving him in a sudden silence.He sighs, and gets up to retrieve the folder.Back at his desk, though, he smiles to himself. He has to admit he can’t wait for the day he meets Jung Hoseok again, too.  It arrives sooner than he expected, because Yoongi has been swamped with work the closer they get to the date of the mall’s opening ceremony. He has tasks he can’t delegate - meetings with tenants, investors, board members, and not to mention phone calls with his father (which are the most tiring of them all).Above all that he has to run all his real estate matters - the malls, the condominiums, the offices. It’s hard work.So when d-day comes and Yoongi is done dressing up for the big ceremony thanks to the whirlwind of stylist noonas (arranged by his precious PA, who seems adamant on dolling Yoongi up) wielding all sorts of make up equipment and hair products, he finds himself standing next to the stage waiting for his turn to give a speech. Right now, an emcee is greeting the guests.He runs through his speech one more time in his head (he never brings a script, it seems so impersonal) until his mental dry run gets cut short when he hears his name.The audience applauds and he squares his shoulders. Climbs the steps and raises a hand to wave at the audience before taking his place behind the podium of the stage.Operator Marketing has done a great job with the set up. It’s a temporary stage with a red carpet and a bright backdrop, on the rooftop of the new mall. It’s an eco-garden of sorts complete with a small pond that runs along the walkways providing a natural partition to different sides of the area. There are beautiful trees recently planted that are still young and blooming, chubby shrubs and thick walls of vine that give the illusion of nature although the building is in central Gangnam. The audience are seated in rows of chairs that will be removed for the networking later accompanied by the band’s mini-concert.Speaking of the band, there they are. Front row, off to the side. Yoongi’s eyes flick quickly past the blank expressions of his board members, beams of his leadership staff, and three new handsome faces he’s only seen on posters, billboards and on Jimin’s phone. His eyes rest momentarily on a surprised expression of the face he’s been looking for. Yoongi hasn’t seen him since the day they met at the studio. Fuck, Jung Hoseok is still so pretty.His heart hammers in his chest.Stage fright, he tells himself, never mind that he never has stage fright in all his years at opening ceremonies and in business presentations.He stands behind the podium, smiles at the general crowd without meeting anyone’s eyes. Puts aside the visual of the most beautiful man he’s seen and puts on his CEO hat instead. He begins his speech.  Jimin is vibrating out of his skin next to him. The opening notes of the first song is starting, thanks to JIN on the synthesizer. It’s a slow ascent of notes and some good old loud music will help take the edge off.Yoongi thought his speech had gone well, he had shaken hands with a professional smile, the ribbon cutting over and done with, he’s ready to relax. He’s done for the night, except…“Sing with us,” V says in his velvety voice, his violin held loosely in hand, bow pointed to the crowd.Jimin cheers loudly, hands cupped around his mouth, but it’s drowned out by the cheers of others in the audience.“Stay,” JIN croons.“Stay,” j-hope echoes from the other side of the stage.Yoongi sips at his beer and nods his head to the music. It’s good. The beat is hard-hitting and the synth gives it a unique sound. V comes in with his violin and the whole thing is just captivating.Yoongi’s glad Operator Marketing had left minimal lights on in favour of spotlighting the stage, he’s sure no one is looking at him; more precisely, no one is looking at him watching a certain guitarist on stage.“We’ll bounce back, and hit another level,” j-hope sings.The song ends with a heavy drum beat and j-hope’s voice. Yoongi, despite himself, gives a cheer because he can’t clap with his hand occupied by his can of beer.“Aren’t they amazing?” Jimin screams. Yoongi’s not sure if Jimin is talking to him or Namjoon; maybe he’s just asking a rhetoric question to the universe.“This next song is for all the pining hearts out there,” JIN says, and Yoongi must be crazy because he thinks j-hope is looking right at him. His face warms regardless. “Let’s go j-hope!”And the guitarist starts strumming. Something low and rhythmic, like the beat of Yoongi’s heart in his ribcage.V is whistling a melody into his mic.JIN starts to sing, and - oh. It’s in Japanese. Yoongi feels a wave of gratitude; does Ethereal know many of their investors are Japanese? It’s a nice touch. The crowd’s cheers swell.Yoongi’s heart inflates like a balloon. He’s still watching j-hope.He’s in his element, the black and red guitar strapped over his shoulder. He’s wearing an all-black outfit - like the first day they met, a baggy t-shirt and cargo pants but with more rips in them this time. Chunky boots. Black wrist gloves. An LV necklace. There are blond highlights in his hair.Ethereal, indeed.“I want you~” JIN belts out.“Kimi ga hoshii nda, baku no subete wa,” j-hope chants.Yoongi has a wild thought that j-hope can hear his heart beating. He takes another sip of his beer. He’s not even inebriated but having crazy thoughts.“All for you~” JK sings from behind his drumset.“Ima yori soba de, mata todoku made,” j-hope finishes the chorus.Yoongi tips his can of beer back and feels the last drop fall on his tongue.Sour, he looks back up at the stage. At j-hope’s sweaty brow and the way his hair is stringy but somehow still sexy. The way his shirt is sticking to his lithe frame. j-hope glances up from his guitar and grins into the crowd.Yoongi’s face flushes and he doubts it’s the beer. He needs another can.  “CEO Min.”Yoongi’s heart freezes at the voice. He’s been waiting all night (and days, really) but he’s still startled. Slowly, he turns. He’s switched to wine now, and it swishes gently in the glass in his hand.“j-hope-ssi,” he greets.j-hope bows. “Please, just Hoseok. I apologise, I didn’t realise when we met back then that you’re the CEO of Minstradamus. Park Jimin-ssi mentioned it’s independently owned.”“Yes, under my own name,” Yoongi explains. “It’s a separate venture of mine from Minstradamus.”“I see,” Hoseok’s eyes twinkle. “A secret hobby?”Oh, how close he is to the truth. Yoongi smiles, “Something like that.”They sip from their respective drinks; Hoseok has a bottle of soju, something light and fruity. He’ll continue to perform later; there is a short interlude for conversations and for bathroom breaks.“It’s a nice mall,” Hoseok comments. “And a lovely event.”“Thank you. I liked your set.”“Have you seen us before?”“No,” Yoongi admits, regretting. “My PA - Park Jimin - is a fan, though, so I’ve heard of your music here and there but never listened.”“Ah,” Hoseok smacks his lips. Yoongi wonders if he tastes like lychee, the flavour of his soju. “Are we not your type of music?”“Just… Busy,” Yoongi doesn’t say that he makes music himself and hardly has time to listen, now. A little ironic, but a person has only so many hours in a day.“I can imagine,” Hoseok looks around, eyes wandering to the ceremony’s decorations and fancy catering. Yoongi’s gaze lingers on his jaw line.“I heard you do all kinds, though,” Yoongi says, remembering Jimin’s words. Apparently the band is that versatile.“We try,” Hoseok nods, smiling. “We’re in our rock era now, though. Our last album has a heavy rock sound. It’s definitely up Seokjin hyung’s alley, though. He does a mean scream.”“It suits you, too,” Yoongi lets slip.“Yeah?” Hoseok bites his lip as he smiles shyly.“You were great out there,” says Yoongi. He might be an introvert but he’s not necessarily shy. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”Hoseok laughs, throws his head back. Yoongi swallows at the sight of the line of his neck. “Aish, what are you saying, CEO Min-nim?”“I’m saying I’ll probably download your latest album on Spotify after tonight.”“Yeah?” Hoseok grins, still looking shy from the way his eyes are bright and cheeks a faint red. “We have three songs to go. You don’t have to make a hasty decision.”“The guitarist is just that good,” he grins. “I love the sound of EGs.”“Yeah, I think you mentioned something like that back at the studio. You’re a pianist, aren’t you?”“I mean, I play all sorts,” Yoongi says, doesn’t know how to be modest over something like this.Hoseok giggles, thankfully finding his bluntness amusing. “You know a lot about music. I had a clue, back in the studio, you know, from the way you talked. You’re a man of many layers.”“So are you, honestly. I didn’t know you could dance, too.”“So you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole,” Hoseok laughs.“A little bit,” grins Yoongi good-naturedly. He’s enjoying this conversation more than he thought he would, but then again, this was what he’s been craving for since their first meeting. “You could say I’ve fallen down the unicorn rainbow.”Hoseok’s laugh is loud, but they’re tucked away at a corner, where Yoongi was initially looking for a moment of reprieve from networking. He’s glad Hoseok found him, though.“CEO Min—““Yoongi,” he interrupts. “Yoongi hyung.” His journey down the unicorn rainbow includes videos of Hoseok’s past training and also his basic information. Yoongi knows the man’s birthdate now, sue him.“Yoongi hyung,” Hoseok repeats after him with a smile. He looks around quickly, as if wanting to keep this between them, and he steps closer. Yoongi can see the mole above his lip in the dim light of the rooftop. “I don’t know if you’re free, but, ah, look, I’d love to chat more with you. I could bring my guitar, and— and, ah, this is crazy.”“What are you proposing, Hoseok?” Yoongi raises his eyebrow.“Don’t misunderstand me,” Hoseok laughs bashfully. “I know my music, and you know your music. I just think we’d have a lot to talk about when it comes to it. I’d play some of our songs for you, if you want, and you can hear them, since you haven’t heard much of our sound yet.”One thing about Yoongi, he loves talking about music.“I love that idea,” Yoongi says warmly. Tries to project his happiness as best as he can. Gums, Yoongi, smile with your gums!“Yeah?” Hoseok smiles. “Not many men want to just talk.”“I mean it,” Yoongi insists. “It’s a real hobby of mine. How about we meet at my studio?”“Sounds good,” Hoseok nods enthusiastically. Yoongi can’t believe his luck. It’s so easy with Hoseok, just like that first day. And don’t get him wrong, Hoseok’s one hell of a sexy guy, but Yoongi sincerely liked talking with him. He’s intrigued by him, wants to get to know him. He’s just amazed it seems reciprocated.“Tomorrow?”“Tomorrow.”They smile at each other.“Hob-ah,” it’s Seokjin, come to get Hoseok back on the stage. When he sees Yoongi, he bows.“JIN-ssi,” Yoongi greets. “Thank you for performing for us tonight. Your band is amazing.”“It’s a wonderful opportunity, CEO-nim.”“Yoongi,” he says, stretching his hand out.Seokjin grasps it, smiles. Yoongi gets how he got his nickname. “Seokjin.”JK is already on stage, and he rattles on his cymbals, looking at them.“We’ve got to continue our set,” Seokjin says, bowing again.“Go ahead,” Yoongi nods. “I’ll be watching.”Seokjin beams and turns to leave, but Hoseok blushes, biting his lip shyly again. Yoongi hopes he knows Yoongi meant he’ll be watching him.Yoongi reaches out. His fingers brush against Hoseok’s forearm, a barely there thing. But Hoseok looks down at it and then up at him. It’s a little dark, but they’re close enough for Yoongi to see goosebumps rise up Hoseok’s neck. He did that, he thinks a little dizzyingly.“I’ll see you soon,” he says.“Yeah, hyung,” Hoseok’s smile is a new one - soft and small. It’s akin to the burst of bubbles in Yoongi’s chest.  Ethereal finishes their set. Their last three songs are all fast-paced, perfect to end the night with a bang. The first two have Yoongi bopping his head to the beat, awed by the live instruments but also by JIN and JK’s voices, who are their two main vocalists.But the last one takes Yoongi completely by surprise. Maybe because j-hope leans into his mic and says it’s an unreleased song for their comeback album in a few weeks, and Yoongi is touched that they’d do a preview for his event.Maybe because Yoongi would recognise his own beat anywhere so soon after selling it.“I wanna dance til my legs break,” j-hope starts the song, again catching Yoongi off-guard. His singing voice is wonderful, and Yoongi’s chest feels tight from the way his heart is beating so fast. Both from watching Hoseok, and from the realisation that Ethereal’s the famous group he sold his song to.“I wanna love til my heart aches,” V follows after.It’s his melody and his beats, and Yoongi finds himself feeling a gladness he hasn’t felt in a long time.“I want the cause of my death,” JK sings, and he’s gazing at V who’s standing near him with a smile, loosely holding his violin and bow. The band’s got fantastic chemistry, Yoongi thinks. “To be amazing sex.”“And I’ll laugh with my last breath,” Seokjin ends the verse.Yoongi is glad that he’s sent his empty wine glass away so he has both hands free to clap along.JK pounds on the drum; j-hope makes his electric guitar wail; V finally looks away from JK to position his violin under his chin; and JIN takes a deep breath to belt out the chorus.Yoongi already knows how it will go, though when the chorus hits the words aren’t his: let’s grow old and die young. The lyrics the band wrote suit the song. He smiles so hard his face hurts.  ♫Believe that time is always forever And I’ll always be here Believe it til the end I won’t go away and won’t say never It doesn’t have to be friend You can keep it til the end
— Clock Strikes
  “So,” Seokjin says, out of nowhere.Hoseok hears him, but ignores him. There are two other guys here to entertain their eldest. Hoseok’s busy.“Soooo…” Seokjin says again.On a normal day, Hoseok would look up and smile and ask him, So what, hyung?But today’s not a normal day. Today’s the day—“So I’m staying in and making myself some grilled clams for dinner,” Seokjin says.Seokjin wants to talk about cooking. That’s Jungkook’s territory. Why isn’t Jungkook answering him?Hoseok looks up quickly, sees his two bandmates making out. Ah.“It’s a new recipe,” Seokjin goes on, as if any of them knows better. “Jungwon hyung gave it to me last weekend and I finally have a free night to try it.”“We’re going out,” Taehyung detaches himself from Jungkook’s lips long enough to say.“Date?” Seokjin asks, as if it isn’t obvious.“Yeah, we’re going to one of the meat restaurants Park Jimin-ssi recommended, before we get too busy with comeback,” Jungkook says enthusiastically.Hoseok loves his meat, but Jungkook… Meat is probably his second love, after Taehyung.“Nice,” Seokjin says. Hoseok can feel him staring at Hoseok. Because normally, this would be Hoseok’s cue to say that they’d hang out, the two singles of the band, and bond over loud and chaotic video games or quiet reading time alone but together.“Soooooo…” Seokjin sighs.“Sorry, hyung, I have plans,” Hoseok finally says. Slips his phone into his pocket and tries to stay nonchalant, tucking his long hair behind an ear.“You know people in Seoul?” Seokjin looks confused, for good reason. Hoseok has never made friends or business partners in Seoul. He’s a Jeolla guy. The Southernmost tip of the country is his, and he’s busy when they tour down in the region. Seokjin’s the city boy.“I do,” Hoseok shrugs, again trying his best at nonchalance. He isn’t a good actor, which means he needs to get out of here before he gets interrogated.“Where are you going?” Seokjin calls after him, even as Hoseok zips past him and the passionately kissing duo for his bedroom door of their shared apartment.“Resting!” Hoseok calls back, even though he knows that’s not what Seokjin means. Sure enough, he hears Seokjin shout, “I mean tonight!”But he’s already slammed the door and thrown himself on the bed. His eyes glued to the latest text he received. He lets himself smile, finally, at the words glowing on his screen.
I’m looking forward to seeing you, Hob-ah.
  When Hoseok was younger, he was enthralled by the idea of travelling. As he grew older, his love for music consumed him, and he did everything he could with music - playing an instrument, singing and rapping, dancing. When he was old enough to decide what he wanted to do with his music, it made sense for him to commit to performing for as many people in as many places as he could go.He was lucky to meet Seokjin as a teenager, who was signed under the same label he was. Seokjin was two years older and they were both reluctant trainees under the idol system; Hoseok was a good dancer and rapper, but he liked his guitar too much. He was a triple threat, the agency said, they had great plans for him. The same went for Seokjin whose captivating looks perhaps played a bigger role than Hoseok’s. But Hoseok liked the way his strings sounded with Seokjin’s keys, and they ended up spending too many jam sessions playing their instruments together and messing around making their own songs instead of practising singing and dancing. Eventually, they made the decision to leave the agency together.“Twoseok,” Seokjin had joked. “That’s our band name.”“Please don’t, hyung,” Hoseok whined, a seed of regret threatening to burst into bloom. He suddenly realised he was very much stuck to entertain Seokjin’s bad jokes alone.“Big Seok and Little Seok,” Seokjin went on.Hoseok knew he had to find more band members.Thankfully, that didn’t take long. Jungkook was a drumming prodigy who was playing for a band at a seedy cafe. He was playing the cajon at the time, looking like his mind was elsewhere. He was bored.Seokjin offered him a life of uncertainty with plenty of songwriting, composing and production freedom if he joined their band. Jungkook said yes. He was only eighteen.They met Taehyung last, in a setting similar to Jungkook’s. KSJ And Friends was barely a year old, and they were struggling. Seokjin worked part time as a sous chef in Seoul, where they were based. Now and then, Hoseok took on freelance dancing instructor gigs for various studios down in Gwangju and he was apart from the band for days at a time, but they paid well. Jungkook, as their baby, was tasked to keep house and be a good boy. He did not like it, but respected his bandmates enough to not get into any sort of trouble. He did, however, defiantly get a sleeve of tattoos.Luckily, Taehyung liked them. He was playing the violin at a cafe where the three of them were sharing a meal because they were poor but still wanted to treat themselves. On his break, he came up to Jungkook and complimented his sleeve. They hit it off right away. Taehyung gave Jungkook his number and two free meals secretly smuggled out with a wink and a sly smile.Taehyung kissed Jungkook two weeks later, and joined the band for good a month later.For two years the quartet took on gigs touring Asia as KSJ And Friends as an independent band, until they finally settled down to sign to a label.That was when they rebranded as Ethereal.  Nowadays, though, Hoseok spends many nights looking out at the sky and wishing he’s home. He wonders what it’s like to lay down roots, to build an empire from the ground up. He’s spent years planting seeds with his music but never stuck around to see the forest grow.“You must be tired,” Yoongi says sympathetically from Hoseok’s screen, where his phone is propped up on the hotel dresser.Hoseok dabs at the moisturiser he’s putting on his face. “I am,” he doesn’t deny it. He’s in Taipei now and finally in his pyjamas. His fingers hurt from three hours of playing his guitars.Two weeks after MinCoMall’s launch event, Ethereal had staged a comeback. The same comeback where they officially released Grow Old and Die Young, the song Yoongi had composed. Hoseok thinks he will never get over this divine coincidence.A month of promotions in South Korea and Japan, and then they packed their bags for the tour that was announced half a year ago.Hoseok has seen Yoongi a grand total of three times after the opening ceremony.They had their music talk in the studio the next day as giddily planned during their set’s interlude. Hoseok had fallen hard and fast during their talk. It was almost like a test of sorts, because Jung Hoseok doesn’t go to studios with just any man he meets. He was so relieved when Yoongi asked for his number. They met a second time right before comeback season began. It was a simple dinner, and Hoseok had tried his best to dodge Seokjin’s questions for missing his grilled clams, but it was their first date. Hoseok went back to Yoongi’s place, because the chemistry’s been thrumming for awhile now. The third time was a secret rendezvous at the airport before Hoseok left to tour. He is lucky, Hoseok supposes, that Min Yoongi is wealthy and has several tricks up his sleeve to ensure their privacy.Taiwan’s their third stop out of twenty, and he misses Yoongi already.“How did everything go today?” Yoongi asks, and Hoseok likes that about him, likes that he takes an interest and sincerely wants to know.“There were some technical issues with Tae’s mic pack,” Hoseok says, busy sliding his fingers all over his face. “But he isn’t main vocal so it’s alright. He signalled to me and I signalled to Jin hyung, and I covered him for a bit until his pack got replaced.”Yoongi clicks his tongue. “Sounds tough. You guys are so professional, though. And it’s amazing how quickly you can cover each other like that.”Hoseok smiles at the screen, finally done with his routine. “You’re too kind, hyung. We’ve just been doing this a long time. It’s second nature.”“Doesn’t make what I said any less true.”Yoongi’s right, and Hoseok lets himself feel proud of his band for a second.“Are you headed to bed?”“Yup,” Hoseok picks up his phone and does a spin, as Yoongi laughs. Hoseok falls onto the bed dramatically. The phone drops from his hand and bounces once, before landing sideways, propped up by a pillow. Hoseok sees himself in the small square at the corner, and crawls seductively towards his phone, liking how he looks despite the ridiculousness of his striped pyjama set.Yoongi has an eyebrow raised but there’s already a fierce blush on his cheeks. “Whoa, whoa.”Hoseok giggles, feeling flirty and shy at once. “Just playing with you.”“Oh, really?” Yoongi’s voice is low and Hoseok feels himself blush now. “Let me see more, baby.”“Hyung!” Hoseok squeals, feigning being scandalised, but he feels himself shiver.Yoongi is the one laughing at him now.“You’re a pervert,” Hoseok says, pouting.“I thought you wanted to play,” Yoongi teases him.“You’re mean, too.”“Is Hoseokie feeling hurt? Aww,” Yoongi says, but his voice softens. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to tease you so much.”“It’s just embarrassing,” Hoseok huffs, but he makes sure Yoongi can see his smile. “It’s just…”His voice trails off. He misses Yoongi, but they’re only two dates in and haven’t known each other that long. He doesn’t even know what these calls are, what it all means. But he likes it, likes Yoongi, and trusting enough to feel like he’s a special fixture in Yoongi’s life despite the lack of labels.“I know,” Yoongi says quietly, running a hand through his hair. Hoseok aches. He wishes he could do that to Yoongi’s hair, too.“I’m glad we’ve got these calls, though,” Hoseok says, settling down underneath the covers. Cosy.“I am, too,” Yoongi replies. He hesitates for just half a second, then says, with his fringe falling back into his eyes and sincerity clear in his voice, “I miss you.”Hoseok’s heart melts. He lets the words sink in, lets himself look into Yoongi’s eyes, lets Yoongi hold his breath for a bit longer.“I miss you too, Yoongi hyung,” he says quietly.  Yoongi sends a video of himself watching an illegal livestream of Ethereal’s concert at their sixth stop. Hoseok bursts out laughing in the middle of their post-concert dinner in central Jakarta, nearly spraying rice at his bandmates.Naturally, they demand what’s gotten him so tickled.Hoseok tells a half-lie and says his friends back home watched their concert illegally.That sparks off a debate on the label’s stance to take action on illegal online streamers versus the band’s view that people who can’t afford or able to go shouldn’t be denied the chance to watch them online for free.“It’s not like the company’s losing money,” Jungkook says, mouth full. “Our shows are sold out.”“If anything, we gain more fans,” Taehyung agrees.“I hope the people streaming are the rich ones,” Seokjin adds thoughtfully. “I’m sick of the same old privileged people getting seats for so many of our shows. They don’t give others a chance.”Hoseok grins and types under the table, The guys would love you.  Yoongi video calls him wearing nothing but the necklace Hoseok sent him.It’s a gift from their eighth stop two weeks ago, where Hoseok thought of Yoongi standing in the shop and then made the split decision to buy. No occasion, no reason. Just an I thought of you and wanted to spoil you gift that he’s faintly embarrassed about.It’s a fine chain with a pendant of a music note. Thankfully, it’s not LV, because he thinks getting the guy he likes something from a brand he’s ambassador for is a little weird.“It’s beautiful,” Yoongi says, his long fingers caressing the chain resting on his pale skin. The screen cuts off at his chest, but Hoseok can see enough of the beginnings of his pectorals and the deep curve of his collarbones. He feels a little faint.“You’re beautiful,” he breathes. He lets himself watch Yoongi a little more and Yoongi lets him take his time, grinning lazily at him.“So,” Yoongi says, and there’s a twinkle in his eye and a grin Hoseok’s quickly getting used to take for mischief. “What are you wearing, babe?”Hoseok bursts out laughing, and pretends to throw a pillow at his phone. Yoongi laughs along, low and gravelly, and Hoseok thinks that seeing Yoongi’s gums from unabashed laughing beats skin anytime.  On the airplane on their way to their twelfth stop, Hoseok nearly exposes Yoongi to his bandmates. It’s his fault, really. He’s bored and can’t sleep, so he’s taken to rereading their latest string of texts. Yoongi is funny, in a dry, unpredictable sort of way, he’s good at teasing, and their conversations go on and on albeit stretched over a long period of time given their erratic schedules.Hoseok’s so immersed in his KakaoTalk he doesn’t feel someone come up to his elbow.“What are you smiling at?” Jungkook’s voice in his ear barely gives him enough warning before his phone is snatched away.“Let me see,” Taehyung joins the stack of bodies where Hoseok has thrown himself at their youngest.“That’s private!” squawks Hoseok.Thankfully, Jungkook isn’t a disrespectful jerk despite how cheeky he is. He doesn’t look at the screen, just scares Hoseok into thinking he would. “I’ll give it back if you tell me who you’re texting!”“I’m not texting anyone, I’m on airplane mode!” Hoseok insists, pouting.“Aw, look at him,” coos Taehyung. “Give it back, Jungkook-ah.”“I thought you’re on my side,” Jungkook is the one pouting now.“You’re done for,” Seokjin laughs at Taehyung, happy to watch their antics from where he’s curled up in his seat with his plushie and a snack.But Taehyung has his own pout as a weapon.“Aww,” Hoseok drops his act and goes to pinch Taehyung’s cheeks. “You cutie, I could kiss your cute face all over.”“Hey, that’s my man,” Jungkook jumps them, all pretences of cuteness gone, and the three of them end up rolling in the airplane aisle squished between the seats.Seokjin throws bits of chips at them, laughing.Hoseok grabs his phone in the chaos. His secret is safe for another day.  “I think they’re getting suspicious,” Hoseok says off-handedly. They’re eating dinner together, online, at the fourteenth leg of their tour.Hoseok with his room service steak, and Yoongi with his self-prepared one. There is a vase of orchids on Hoseok’s table from the hotel room’s decorations, and a much bigger, fancy bouquet on Yoongi’s. Yoongi had said he bought it for Hoseok, “like a gentleman would” and Hoseok had giggled while blushing, touched but amused by Yoongi’s ridiculousness. He supposes the flowers will probably be left to wilt in Yoongi’s home, but he appreciates the gesture all the same.“Why?” Yoongi asks. “Have you been smiling at your phone too much?”Hoseok groans, he’s never going to live it down. Maybe he shouldn’t have told Yoongi about it. “No.”“Then?” Yoongi looks genuinely puzzled. “It’s not like we’ve been meeting up or texting when you’re with them.”He doesn’t sound hurt about it, it’s just a fact they both know. Hoseok suddenly feels embarrassed and tries to backtrack. “Nothing, maybe they have a hunch.”“Based on what?” Damn, Yoongi isn’t going to let this go, is he? This tenaciousness might be why he’s fit to be CEO.“Nothing,” Hoseok repeats, still embarrassed. He stuffs a sliced steak into his mouth.“Hoseok,” Yoongi says. And it’s a simple thing, really, just his name, but there’s something about it. The low tone, the commanding lilt.“They said,” he mumbles, putting down his cutleries and covering his eyes. “They said I look happier these days.”He can feel his cheeks burning.“Put your hands down, Hob-ah.”His voice is gentle, so gentle. Hoseok lowers his hands. His eyes find Yoongi’s pixelated ones.“I’m happy that you’re happy, Hoseokie,” says Yoongi softly.Hoseok could melt into a puddle. He looks away, smiling, wants to run into his bed and giggle hysterically into the sheets.Maybe he’s lost his mind.Maybe he’s gone for Min Yoongi.  Yoongi sends him a rare full-body mirror selfie of himself all dressed up. Valentino, Yoongi had typed, After the opening ceremony Jimin had a few suits tailored to please them.Hoseok doesn’t care about brands, but he thinks he might send a thank you bouquet to Valentino’s team for the finely cut suit. Yoongi looks exquisite. Elegant and mature and handsome all at the same time. Hoseok sometimes can’t believe he’s fallen for a chaebol, but Yoongi doesn’t feel like one. He’s down to earth and frank and speaks to Hoseok like he matters and not someone beneath him.What’s the occasion? Hoseok types, barely looking up to see where he’s going. He’s following Jungkook’s feet from the periphery of his vision, and that’s enough. There’s nothing much to see; Hoseok’s been to Kyoto many times before, and this is their usual hotel.“Come to my room for a drink?” Seokjin asks his bandmates once they’re in the elevator heading for their floor.The guys murmur agreement despite stifling yawns. It’s their eighteenth stop, and they’ve reached the peak of lethargy. They’re heading back to Seoul tomorrow, and there’s the general desire to celebrate but lack of energy to do so. Hoseok has his phone put away to prevent his bandmates from seeing his secret situationship, and he now rests his head back on the wall of the elevator with his eyes closed. He hasn’t made any plans with Yoongi yet for Seoul. He isn’t sure what will happen, after months apart. Maybe he’s just a fun fling. Maybe he’s an easy distraction.He had hoped that Yoongi would see him at one of his overseas stops, but that was just wishful thinking. Yoongi has said several times he rarely travels, because he has so many domestic businesses to handle. He can’t just jet off to watch a concert. But maybe in Seoul—Hoseok stamps down the thought before it can fully form. He doesn’t want to ask too much of Yoongi when they’re barely anything.Invited to a fashion show, Yoongi replies, and Hoseok feels appropriately impressed, before he remembers he and his band have had their fair share of fashion show invites, too. They sound fancy and pretty fun, but not as exclusive as media makes them out to be. It’s always a money and connections thing.As a model? Hoseok chooses to reply instead, followed by a string of winky and laughing texts. He adds a fire one just for fun.Hoseok takes a shower and enjoys the way his muscles relax under the hot stream. He bundles himself up in the hotel’s white robe and traipses over to Seokjin’s room with a water bottle.Taehyung and Jungkook are already there, with Seokjin discussing the concert and how well received their Japanese version of Falling was. They’ve got wine bottles out, and when Hoseok comes in they cheer and start pouring.Yoongi replies under an hour later, No one wants to see me like this, only you.
I’m sure you have your fans.

I’m not the rockstar.
It’s funny to hear Yoongi call him a rockstar. Hoseok still feels like the boy he was years ago, just him and his guitar with a waking dream and a murky future. He replies, sentimentality making him a little too honest given the circumstances, I see only you.
It’s only you for me, too, Hoseok.
The words sound heavier and more meaningful than just flirty exchanges over pictures. Could Hoseok really be the only one Yoongi is seeing? A big shot like him could have anyone - he doesn’t even have to pay them. Yoongi is good looking and charming enough to have a line of potential partners.The conflicting thoughts make Hoseok’s head spin. He’s thinking too much on alcohol.Thankfully, Yoongi saves him from replying with another selfie. His face is flushed and his shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. He looks incredibly hot and a pool of desire gathers in Hoseok’s gut. He can’t believe such a man is texting him and sending him pictures.Hoseok takes a selfie of his own, his own tanned chest on display. His bandmates eye him, but they’re too buzzed and tired to rib him much.“That’ll send the unicorns crazy, hyung,” Taehyung manages to mumble sleepily.“Not posting it,” Hoseok answers. He sends the selfie to Yoongi before sense could get hold of him.“You have a repository of thirst traps?” Jungkook asks with his eyes closed, draped over Seokjin and Taehyung on the bed. “I wanna see.”“Maybe Hoseokie has a boyfie,” Seokjin sings. He’s annoyingly in tune despite the alcohol.“When would I have the time to find one,” Hoseok groans, and crawls over to the entwined limbs and heads to add his.“What a shame,” Seokjin says, sighing. “Our Hoseokie is a great catch.”“Yeah, hyung?” Hoseok giggles, and hiccups.“Of course. All my dongsaengs are a great catch,” Seokjin breathes out deeply, and then doesn’t move anymore.His even breaths join Jungkook and Taehyung’s.Hoseok cracks an eye open to check his phone for Yoongi’s reply.
I came alone, but I really wish you’re my date.
Hoseok wishes so, too. Maybe in Seoul— Maybe, maybe—They’re both so busy.He types, Catch me if you can, Yoongi hyung.  They arrive in Seoul in the morning, after five hours of sleep. They have a couple of hours of free time, and then rehearsal. Hoseok takes a pill and a drink for hangovers and wears a pair of sunglasses, and heads home to sleep off the rest of his headache. Seokjin does the same. Jungkook and Taehyung disappear together, but they’re young and fit and probably spritely enough to schedule in a breakfast date.He wakes up at one pm feeling much better, and his mood lifts even more when he goes to the kitchen and sees a stack of pancakes made by Seokjin. His hyung himself is nowhere in sight, but Hoseok can hear his voice blabbering in the gaming room.He eats his pancakes and texts Yoongi that he’s back in town.I’ll see you soon! Yoongi even added a smiley face emoji. He must really be excited to see Hoseok. It fills him with joy, and he gets ready for the day with an added bounce to his step.The rest of the day goes smoothly. Ethereal is psyched for their last leg of the concert on home ground, and they’ve planned for special encores and new individual segments. Taehyung will sing a jazz number, Seokjin will do a self-composed fan song, Jungkook will perform acapella, and Hoseok will dance.It’s a new thing they’re doing, showcasing their lesser known skills. It’s a sort of testing ground for their next album, see if it’s something their fans will like and how comfortable the band members themselves are doing it.It’s four pm and their rehearsal is getting to a close. They have two hours to freshen up, have dinner and change, and then it’s back to the green room for warm ups and a pre-show briefing. Their first song will start at seven.His bandmates are still on stage, but Hoseok’s taking an extended breather to stretch since he’s the only one dancing. There is a knock on the door.It’s his bodyguard. “Hoseok-nim? Are you free right now?”“Sure, what is it, Minseo?”“You have a visitor.”Hoseok straightens from where he was initially bent over in half, touching his toes. “Oh?”Minseo nods, expression passive. “Min Yoongi-ssi is here to see you.”Hoseok’s pulse quickens. He wasn’t expecting this but he can’t deny he was hoping for… What? Something, anything.“Where is he?”“Shall I let him in?”Hoseok nods, and walks briskly to an adjoining room which opens to another hallway. “Here.”Minseo steps aside, and—Hoseok doesn’t realise he’s holding his breath but now that he’s looking at Yoongi in the flesh, he legitimately stops breathing entirely.“Hyung.”“Hoseok,” Yoongi walks over. He’s carrying a gift bag that’s covered with paper, but Hoseok pays it little mind. His eyes are on Yoongi. Minseo steps inside, too.“Don’t let anyone come in here, say I need a private moment,” Hoseok tells him, “And keep this between us, okay?”He gestures to Yoongi, and Minseo nods. Hoseok ushers Yoongi into the connecting room and shuts the door.Silence. Yoongi reaches for him, and—The chemistry is back, tenfold, the sparks are flying, like a box of fireworks, and desire is thick in the air. They’re kissing, hands around each other, bodies flush against each other, and Hoseok’s head is spinning.He’s hot and sweaty and Yoongi’s skin feels cool and clean, but neither of them care to separate.This doesn’t feel like a fling, doesn’t feel like a distraction, it’s too passionate, too needy, after months of dancing around shy video calls and tender texts and suggestive photos exchanged.“I miss you,” Yoongi mouths into his jaw.Hoseok shivers. “Me too, Mr CEO.”Yoongi chuckles. The sound rumbles against Hoseok’s chest. “You missed me for my title?”“It just makes you extra sexy,” says Hoseok honestly, and Yoongi leans back a bit to push sweaty locks of hair from Hoseok’s eyes.“Does it make me boyfriend material?” Yoongi asks in a low voice.Hoseok’s heart leaps to his mouth. He nods, doesn’t care that he’s smiling like a lunatic. Yoongi smiles back and kisses him, a chaste peck. The heat between them cools a bit, giving way to a warm tenderness.“What are you proposing, CEO Min-nim?” Hoseok asks playfully.Yoongi takes both his hands. “I can’t wait anymore. I’ve waited months, even though we’ve barely been on dates or seen each other in the flesh. Jung Hoseok, will you be my boyfriend?”“Oh, hyung.”The bag that Yoongi brought in is back in his hand. Yoongi reaches into it and emerges clutching a bouquet of preserved flowers.“Your bouquet,” he says quietly. “From our date.”“You kept it.”“It’s yours.”Hoseok accepts it. It’s beautiful, in browns and faded blues and pinks. It still has a faint floral smell. Yoongi pushes a box into his hand.“Another gift?”“It’s not much,” Yoongi says bashfully. He opens it for Hoseok and reveals the bracelet inside. It sparkles, a delicate thing of rose gold, gold and white gold.“I love it,” Hoseok says. He asks Yoongi to put it on for him.“Thank you, hyung,” Hoseok hugs Yoongi tight. Is this real? Are they reunited? Are they finally together?Yoongi presses a kiss to the shell of Hoseok’s ear, like he just wants his lips on anything Hoseok. It tickles, and Hoseok giggles.Yoongi murmurs into Hoseok’s ear, voice deep and rumbly, a sound that teased Hoseok’s dreams for months, “Caught you.”  Their honeymoon period falls nicely in the break Ethereal’s got post-tour. It’s a two-month block of nothing for them to enjoy the summer. The band spends it their own ways and it’s their longest time apart in years, even for Taehyung and Jungkook who choose to pursue their individual activities without the other.Seokjin spends days and nights at his chef hyungs’ restaurants and kitchens, cooking up all sorts of seafood and meat dishes, and has a sudden obsession for tennis. He plays games all night. Hoseok doesn’t know when he sleeps. Taehyung disappears for days, sends them photos of him at some artsy event or other, in clubs, at beaches, selfies in bed with a five o’clock shadow. Jungkook starts boxing and takes his video editing passion more seriously. He goes on short trips around the country and films vlogs.And Hoseok spends as much time as he can with Min Yoongi.He goes back to Gwangju and brings his boyfriend, but they stay at a cute bed and breakfast instead of his parents’. Hoseok takes Yoongi to all his old haunts and when he comes back to Seoul his bandmates think he’s just been real homesick. Hoseok goes on expensive and private dinner dates that Yoongi wrangles reservations for thanks to his name. These nights are a little harder to explain to his bandmates, so he schedules them when they’re out, and it also makes it easier to stay over at Yoongi’s. They have cuddle weekends, and Hoseok gets to taste Yoongi’s cooking. They dress up in couple sweats and do face mask nights, they make out for hours and watch dramas until they fall asleep, and they argue over meaningless things yet wake up intertwined in each other, feeling closer than ever.They keep each other a secret, the threat of their busy schedules keeping them from daring to promise each other more.“I like this,” Hoseok whispers, his fingers tracing the barely-there stubble on Yoongi’s chin, warm in bed together.“It’s like a dream,” Yoongi dips his head and mumbles into Hoseok’s bare shoulder. “You are a dream.”Hoseok thinks of the impending end of Ethereal’s break. They will have never-ending rehearsals and Hoseok will work on his lyric writing and they will accept gigs in between world tours. They have to record their next album. Hoseok will love it but also hate it because Yoongi won’t be there.“I fear it’s going to end,” he confesses.Yoongi doesn’t answer. Hoseok hopes Yoongi understands what he means; that he doesn’t fear the end of their relationship but the end of their bubble, their safe space, their privacy.“This might, one day,” Yoongi murmurs reluctantly. “But you and I won’t. That’s what matters, right?”Hoseok nods, rubs his hands from Yoongi’s face down to his neck and then his back. Splays his fingers across his shoulder blades. Yoongi has been his, and will continue to be his.“That’s what matters,” he agrees.  Hoseok sees Jungkook wearing a familiar hoodie one day.“Hey,” he says, frowning, grabbing his bandmate by the shoulders. “Is this yours?”“No, it’s yours,” Jungkook answers shamelessly.That’s what he’s afraid of. “Take it off, Jungkookie.”“Why?” Jungkook leans back, away from Hoseok’s grasp. “We always share clothes. This is nice. It doesn’t look new, too. I figured you won’t mind.”“Well, I do,” Hoseok can’t keep the testiness out of his voice. What if Jungkook’s scent overcomes Yoongi’s? He doesn’t like Jungkook wearing Yoongi’s clothes, either. It’s his.“You never minded us sharing stuff,” Jungkook cocks his head, but he notices Hoseok’s serious expression and lifts the hoodie over his head. Hoseok is relieved that Jungkook is wearing a t-shirt underneath and the hoodie isn’t over his bare body.He snatches the hoodie from Jungkook.“You can wear anything, just not this one,” he says, praying Jungkook doesn’t ask.Jungkook doesn’t answer.But when he goes to his room, he catches a glimpse of Jungkook watching him. There is a small smile on his bandmate’s face.  “I wish I can capture you like this.”Hoseok turns, sees Yoongi watching him. “Right now?”Yoongi nods. Hoseok imagines it would make for a nice photograph, he decides. He’s standing by the tall windows of Yoongi’s living room, watching the morning traffic go by thirty stories below. There’s golden sunlight and he’s wearing nothing but Yoongi’s duvet draped over his arms, the heavy black silk trailing behind him like a cape.“You’re so beautiful.”Hoseok giggles shyly.“I don’t want to share you,” Yoongi admits suddenly, stepping closer. “I want to show you off but I’m a selfish man, too.”“You don’t have to share me.”“I have to, soon. It’s been a year since we met. You can’t hide me from your bandmates forever.”“I’m more surprised Jimin hasn’t uncovered the truth.”“He tried,” Yoongi says wryly. “But I’m an expert liar.”“That doesn’t sound good for me,” Hoseok teases.Yoongi kisses him on the cheek. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve shown you everything.”He has. From his impressive music production studio to his complicated family history to his grand Minstradamus office. Whatever distance they suffered during Ethereal’s world tour, they’re making up for it now.“We’ll still be together, hyung, and that’s what matters,” Hoseok promises him.Yoongi smiles. “That’s what matters.”  ♫Wherever you are, I always make you smile Wherever you are, I’m always by your side Whatever you say, the feelings you’re thinking I promise you forever right now
— Wherever You Are
  Seokjin is probably Hoseok’s closest friend.No, scratch that, he is Hoseok’s closest friend. They met when they were eighteen and twenty respectively. Stuck it out at that idol company for almost two years and then booked out of there as soon as they could. Seokjin paid for his and Hoseok’s debts using his chaebol heir money. They don’t talk about it, because he knows Hoseok feels guilty, despite Seokjin’s insistence that it’s ok.They built their band in some grungy garage, their first real rental in the midst of Seokjin being the poorest he’s been, ever. He and Hoseok shared a tatami mat to sleep. They spent long nights talking about their dreams and their desires and their fears. They ate canned foods and shared meagre meals at food stalls. Then their luck turned, and they finally got regular gigs. Money came in. They got an apartment to share.Point is, Hoseok is practically Seokjin’s shadow. So he knows Hoseok back to front and every kind of laughter he has and knows when he’s in a mood.He also knows that the expression Hoseok’s sporting these days is new to him.Which means Hoseok is experiencing something Seokjin’s never witnessed before.It’s an easy conclusion for Seokjin to make: Jung Hoseok is in love.  Hoseok thinks he’s subtle, but he’s terrible at lying. He’s moody today, and Seokjin’s willing to bet it’s something to do with not being able to meet someone in the middle of their intense rehearsal week.“Let hyung buy you hotteok,” he offers. Something sweet will usually cheer Hoseok up.“I’m on a diet,” Hoseok grumbles.“One won’t kill you,” Seokjin waves a hand.“But our manager might.”That’s a good point.“Let hyung ask manager-nim to buy you hotteok,” he says instead. “That way, he won’t kill you.”Hoseok stares at him. “That’s a terrible idea. He’s the one who’s making sure we follow the diet plan.”“But I’m Kim Seokjin.”Hoseok says nothing at that, just bursts out laughing. What are the chances he thinks Seokjin made a really good point? Regardless, Seokjin gets a laugh out of Hoseok, and that’s already a winning point for him.Unfortunately, their manager does not agree to buy hotteok for Hoseok. He does, however, burst out laughing the way Hoseok did. Seokjin counts that as another point. He likes to make people laugh.Late that night, they’re lounging in the living room when the bell rings.Jungkook goes to get it and returns with some sort of pastry box complete with a bow.“It’s for Hoseok hyung,” he says. Hoseok takes it, looks at the address sticker on it, and blushes.Ah. Seokjin smirks.“What’s that?” he asks innocently.Hoseok fumbles with the box and tries to discreetly hide it as he goes to his room.“Nothing,” he calls.Seokjin looks at his bandmates. Taehyung has his eyes closed. Okay, he’s oblivious. But Jungkook is smirking too. So he knows then. Jungkook comes round to him and whispers to him what he saw in the box through the little plastic window.Hoseok comes back into the living room a little later and sits next to Seokjin. Seokjin gives him a moment, then leans forward and pretends to flick something off the corner of Hoseok’s mouth.“Sorry, you had some sort of cinnamon there.”Hoseok blushes.Jungkook smothers laughter with his hand from across the room and Seokjin winks at him.  Try as he might, Seokjin can’t figure out who Hoseok’s mystery lover is.He deduces it’s someone he met through work, because let’s face it: their lifestyle makes it almost impossible for them to meet anyone outside of work. His deduction doesn’t actually help that much because they meet so many different people. There’s staff at their label and behind the scenes of various gigs and album and music video work, and then there are clients who hire them to perform, and then there are also sponsors and business partners.It might be as close as one of their regular hair and make up to as far as a one-off moving guy helping out with their equipment.Seokjin doesn’t want to be sneaky and snoop in Hoseok’s personal stuff like his phone, so he settles for being extra observant. It doesn’t work; Hoseok treats everyone like he always does, and doesn’t disappear in the middle of their schedules.But Seokjin will get to the bottom of this, because he’s their mathyung and knowing who his dongsaengs are going out with seems to be the type of thing a mathyung should know.  Despite the initial rift with his family caused by paying off his and Hoseok’s debts with the agency, Seokjin has somewhat made up for it in the years Ethereal became successful.His father now mentions him again at family reunions and with his business partners. His mother starts calling him more often and isn’t so cold when he goes back home to visit.Apparently his relationship with them has reached a new peak this time because his father invites him to some sort of dinner with other big names. Seokjin doesn’t want to go, honestly. But he promised himself back then he would try to patch things up, and so on a Saturday evening he dresses himself up and gets their driver to send him to the restaurant downtown.“Seokjin,” his father greets him, and Seokjin tries not to wince at the warning tone beneath the fake warmth. Don’t act out and mess this up, his father isn’t saying aloud. “I’d like you to meet Park Dohyun, Min Sehun, and Lee Jaehyun; and their sons.”Seokjin shakes hands with three men who look just like his father. The same greying hair neatly parted and combed back, the glasses to try to make them look dignified.Their sons are all as young as Seokjin. He smiles at them and shakes their hands too. Two of them are stocky and of similar height to Seokjin, but the last one is slight and the shortest among them all.This last one also looks familiar.“Have we met?” Seokjin tilts his head.The man smiles at him, and recognition hits Seokjin. Of course. Min Yoongi of Minstradamus Co. He didn’t recognise him immediately without the smile he was wearing when Seokjin interrupted him talking with Hoseok at the mall’s opening ceremony.“Yes, I believe so,” Yoongi says.“I remember you,” Seokjin bows. “Nice to see you again.”“Ah, you know each other?” Seokjin’s father looks too happy to know that his son does have worthwhile connections, after all.“I had the pleasure of having Ethereal perform at MinCoMall’s opening last year,” Yoongi answers, and Seokjin is a little impressed that he phrased it so politely. Seokjin’s father’s face falls though, because he hears it for what it is: a Min hired a Kim. He does not like it.Yoongi clears his throat, then gestures to the table where food is already waiting for them. “Shall we, sir? Believe we have lots to catch up.”Seokjin‘s father shoots Seokjin a dirty look in the small scuffle for seats. Seokjin manages to snag the seat beside Yoongi and considers it a win, despite inescapably having his father on his other side.“So, Seokjin-ssi. I didn’t know you’re a hotelier Kim.”Seokjin pulls the banchan closer to him and picks some up onto his plate. “Yeah, not many people do. I don’t volunteer that information and my family would rather not be associated with such a frivolous livelihood.”Yoongi grins up at him. “You’ve got some nerve, then.”“Too much, some would say,” he grins back.“Do you have responsibilities with the hotel chains your family owns, then?”Seokjin shakes his head. “My brother does. I’m merely the second choice. I guess if I’m forced to, I would. It’s my family’s hard work…” He shrugs. “Or maybe I’d just sell it all.”“To the Mins?” Yoongi looks at him, cheeky.Seokjin laughs. “Straight to business before dessert, huh?”Yoongi laughs along. It’s a pleasant dinner, overall, only because he gets to talk to someone remotely normal. They talk about music and Yoongi’s business in low voices and contribute to the table chatter appropriately. Afterwards, Seokjin exchanges numbers with Yoongi. Might be nice having a friend in the chaebol world, he thinks.His father nags at him a little bit about how the Park, Min and Lee sons are all following in their fathers’ footsteps and set to be the pride of their families in years to come, but he lets it all pass through his ear and out the other without feeling too disturbed. There’s something else nagging at him.Something about Yoongi’s smile. Something about the way the conversation didn’t venture to the band even though Yoongi is clearly interested in music. Something about the way Yoongi keeps his phone tilted away from Seokjin at all times that’s a little more protective than usual.“Are you listening, Seokjin-ah?” His father says gruffly.“Yes, appa,” he says automatically. No, he is not, actually.Still, his father drops him off at the band’s shared apartment complex and drives away, and Seokjin finally unbuttons his jacket. Walks up to his building, feeling like he’s missing something obvious.When he gets back home, he searches up Min Yoongi. A year younger than he is. Originally from Daegu. Only child and hence, sole heir to the Min empire. Huh. Poor guy. At least Seokjin’s got it good with being the second born.There is surprisingly little gossip on him. The media typically loves pulling up dirt on chaebols, who in turn love having their names splashed around on the news. Anything to remain relevant, he supposes.Apparently, this Min Yoongi is on the more extreme side of quiet even for famous people standards because what little articles there are on him mainly talk about how reclusive he is and how he hasn’t been seen with a partner at all.Interesting. He’s either very good at keeping out of sight (probably paying off the big media houses) or he’s really a single man. Seokjin is more inclined to believe in the former.Something in the way he caught Min Yoongi smiling at his phone.  Hoseok sits out of band practice one day claiming that he’s not feeling well. He sends the guys a text from inside his locked bedroom, and says he’s heading to a nearby clinic later, so Seokjin doesn’t get to fuss over him. Psh. Kids these days. What’s the point of being a mathyung if he can’t baby the dongsaengs?Broodingly, he goes to rehearsal anyway. Their sound is a little off without Hoseok’s guitars, so they focus a little more on their solo bits and work on perfecting their vocals.“Hyung,” Taehyung approaches him when rehearsal is almost ending. “Jungkook and I are having a double date dinner with another couple tonight, so we won’t be going home with you.”“Oh, that’s fine,” Seokjin nods, “Who is it?”“Remember Park Jimin? We kept in touch.”“Isn’t he a fan?” Seokjin recalls.“Yeah, but he isn’t weird about it or anything, I promise.”“I didn’t know you guys are close.”“We’re not. Not yet, anyway. Jungkookie kept trading meat restaurant recommendations with him and his boyfriend, so it kind of spiralled from there.”“Oh. Huh.”“Yeah. Maybe we should all meet up sometime, all six of us.”“Park Jimin is Min Yoongi’s PA, isn’t he?” Seokjin recalls. “I’m friends with Yoongi.”“You are?” Taehyung looks surprised.“Sure,” Seokjin says. They’ve exchanged several texts since the dinner, Seokjin thinks they might be more than just acquaintances now.Taehyung hums. “Right. All seven of us, then.”“Sounds good.”On his way back home alone, he texts Yoongi, Taehyung mentioned he and Jungkookie are meeting your PA and his boyfriend for dinner. He mentioned we should all get together some time.Yoongi replies, We all?
The four of them, plus me, you and Hoseokie. You remember Hoseok, right? Guitars.
Yoongi takes awhile to answer this time. Seokjin is at his front door when he gets his answer. Yes.Oh. That’s a bit of a conversation stopper. He takes the hint and enters his house without responding.“Hoseok? Hoseok-ah,” he calls. He goes to Hoseok’s bedroom but finds it empty. Frowning, he calls Hoseok.The guy doesn’t pick up but texts him seconds later.
What’s up, hyung?

What do you mean, what’s up? Aren’t you unwell? Why aren’t you home?

Oh. I’m at a friend’s, hyung.
Seokjin snorts. Friend. Right. He’ll play along for Hoseok’s sake.
You shouldn’t be out and about, Hoseok-ah. Maybe next time your friend could come here and take care of you instead.

Ah, his place is nearer to the clinic. Don’t worry, I’ll be back tomorrow.

Call me anytime you need me, okay?

Okay hyung.

Love you, Hoseok.

I love you too, hyung!
Satisfied, Seokjin contemplates what to eat and decides on fancy ramyeon one of his chef friends taught him how to make. He feels lonely all of a sudden, and decides that his conversation with Yoongi ended a little abruptly for his liking. He opens up their texts again.
You free? Wanna come over for dinner? It’s just me, the guys are all out. I’m about to make the best ramyeon you’ve ever tasted.
He vaguely hopes Yoongi doesn’t take it as some sort of come on. He has heard of the ramen trend.
Sorry, hyung. I’m not feeling well.
Seokjin pouts.
There must be a bug going round. Hoseok isn’t well, too. Do you need me to come over with anything?

No, thanks hyung. I’ve got someone over to take care of me.

That’s good. Well, next time. Take care!

Thanks, hyung.
Oh well. That’s two unwell dongsaengs taken care of. What are the odds? Seokjin sighs and goes to grab two packets of ramyeon for himself. Who needs company when he can have all the food to himself? They’re all missing out on this.  They’ve set the date for their comeback. Their album is almost done, they’re in the middle of recording, and the only thing pending is one last track they aren’t sure if they should be adding to the album or not. The album feels a little incomplete, so the production team is looking out for one more unique addition to wrap it all up. So far, they’ve received submissions from their ghost writers and composers, and the label has gone through them all, filtering a couple for Ethereal to select.The four of them gather in Hoseok’s studio one day - among the four of them, his is the biggest, thanks to a private dance corner he requested when they were getting their own studios set up.There are three songs for them to listen to, and their job is to select one they think will fit their album and their sound, and then if necessary discuss how they want to tweak it further. They make their decision quickly, because one of the songs stands out - unanimously, everyone agrees it fits their current concept the best and fills the gap in their album.It’s a lowkey slow ballad, the first verse nothing but the strumming of a guitar before the drums come in for the chorus. The second chorus is fuller, with space for Taehyung’s violin. There are no keys, but they all agree Seokjin could switch to the acoustic this time and Hoseok will be on bass.Surprisingly, the song comes with lyrics. They tune in to it when they listen to it a second time, having turned up the instrumentals earlier. It’s sung by a woman, a delicate voice. The lyrics are surprisingly sentimental.“Whoa,” Taehyung breathes. “I can’t imagine this song with different lyrics now. We’ve got to keep it as it is… Maybe pitch down the melody a little bit, but it’s pretty much perfect.”It’s a first for them. They usually pen their own lyrics, at the very least. Some songs, even when given to them, are tweaked in some way in terms of melody or production. But this time, they’re actually happy with the entirety of the song.“Who’s the composer?” Jungkook asks, leaning towards the screen of Hoseok’s laptop.Hoseok checks, but he doesn’t answer right away.“Hob-ah?” Seokjin prompts him.“It’s…” Hoseok looks dazed. “Agust D.”“He wrote Grow Old Die Young,” Jungkook remembers. “That was a hit.”“So, shall we keep the lyrics?” Seokjin asks. “We can trust him with the music, I think. He gave us a chart topping song last time.”“The lyrics for this are beautiful, but is it us?” Jungkook asks doubtfully. “It sounds like it’s for lovers. Or meant for a lover.”“We literally have the two of you in the band,” Seokjin says. “You both can take vocals, if it’s more sincere that way.”Taehyung and Jungkook look at each other, but it’s Hoseok who speaks up suddenly.“I’ll do it.”The three of them turn to him.Hoseok is blushing. Are those tears in his eyes?“I want to do this,” he says, in a voice so determined Seokjin is speechless. “I’ll take lead vocals, if you guys would let me.”Hoseok has never volunteered for vocals before. Seokjin looks at the other two.“Fine by us,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook nods.Seokjin smiles at Hoseok. It must be serious with his mystery lover. “It’s all yours, Hob-ah.”  Hoseok does such an impressive job in the recording booth for Wherever You Are that it gets voted by their lead producer to be a pre-release song. Seokjin is stunned. He knows Hoseok has a great voice and an amazing range, but the emotions leaking from his voice is something else.“It will create a lot of hype,” Pdogg says to them excitedly where they’re gathered in the conference room discussing comeback details, “Unicorns will be excited that Hoseok’s on lead, and the MV could show Seokjin on acoustic guitars. Maybe we do a stripped down version in promotions where Jungkook plays on the cajon. We could release an instrumental, violin focused version too. Maybe Hoseok could dance for an aesthetic version MV.”There are new possibilities now that they’re venturing beyond their comfort zones for this album. Releasing a track before the album drop introducing something a little different is perfect. Seokjin finds himself feeling excited. He wonders if Hoseok has let his mystery lover listen to the raw recordings yet. Surely he should know he’s Hoseok’s muse.Marketing arranges for live performances and Wherever You Are gets queued up more often than not. Seokjin is psyched for the chance to flex his newly honed acoustic guitar skills and he jokes to Hoseok that he can cover him on his sick days. Hoseok teases him back that Seokjin’s position as main vocalist is pretty shaky now.It’s all good, and Seokjin doesn’t contemplate too much about Hoseok’s emotional reaction to the song. He’s almost given up on uncovering the identity of Hoseok’s secret lover by now. It’s been months since their break and they’re getting busy. After comeback, they will kick off yet another tour which means: rehearsals, rehearsals, and rehearsals, especially with new tracks to add to the set list.He makes sure to compliment Hoseok, though.“Hoseok sounds amazing,” he says, once the final mastered version is ready and he listens to it with his bandmates for the first time. “I think Agust D-nim, whoever this guy is, will be touched with the way you brought his song to life.”It’s apparently the right thing to say, because Hoseok simply surges forward and hugs him tightly.  It’s Music Bank day.The guys have all got eye bags and a slowness to their gait from exhaustion. The last few days have been demanding. Seokjin barely had time to eat, he’s been so busy.The stylists do a wonderful job covering up their telltale signs of lack of sleep and tiredness, and soon enough he’s standing at the stage wings, adjusting his in-ears.“Are you guys ready?”It’ll be their first time performing their comeback songs live, MuBank being first in their list of stages.“Ready,” Taehyung flexes his fingers.Jungkook does a series of hops in place. They don’t even dance but Jungkook is just like this, what can you do?Hoseok is strangely quiet.“I’m a little nervous,” he mumbles.“Because it’s your first lead vocal?” Seokjin asks. Hoseok is not the type to be nervous before a performance. Seokjin and Taehyung get the pre-show jitters, but not the other two. Especially not for MuBank, which they’ve done several times already in their years as Ethereal.Hoseok hesitates. “No, hyung.”Seokjin assumes it’s someone in the audience. Hoseok is really gone for whoever this dude is.“You sound great, Hob-ah,” he says as assuringly as possible. “Your muscle memory will guide you. Unicorns will love it. They’ll feel like you’re serenading them.”He really means one person, but he has to repackage the words.Hoseok nods and visibly steels himself. Seokjin leaves him to it. In the meantime he has to shake off his own nerves. It’s his first time performing live on the acoustic guitar after all. He’ll be on a stool with the instrument on his lap instead of standing behind it, white and black beneath his fingers.The stage manager signals them to go on. The lights dim and Seokjin can see their places already set up. The camera crew are already pointing their cameras at them.Being on stage is a transformative experience for Seokjin. Here, he isn’t Kim Seokjin, hotelier Kim, chaebol Kim, second son inheriting a chain of hotels Kim. He’s JIN. And that kind of pressure is something he embraces wholeheartedly.So when the spotlights turn on and the swell of cheers reach a high and the voice in his in-ears start counting down, the smile on his face comes naturally.He starts to strum.“I’m telling you,” Hoseok begins to sing. The crowd is quiet now. “I softly whisper…”Seokjin looks at Hoseok. He’s looking into the crowd, eyes bright and all traces of nervousness gone. He looks the way he did, back in the studio when they were listening to the song for the first time. They were so floored by the lyrics, and he knows the audience is floored by Hoseok right now.“Tonight, tonight…”Seokjin looks at the strings to make sure he’s playing right, looks back up again. Even Taehyung and Jungkook are looking at Hoseok. Seokjin follows Hoseok’s gaze into the crowd.It’s dark - the spotlights shine on the stage and it’s hard to make out individual faces in the audience - but there’s someone he recognises in the front row. A fair-skinned face wearing the same lovelorn expression when gazing at his phone at a dinner for chaebols. A face he does not expect to see among Unicorns and the general MuBank audience.“You are my angel…”Min Yoongi.  ♫I’m not afraid to love I’m not afraid to try I’m not afraid to fly With my head high
— Head High
  “Very good, Jimin,” Yoongi nods once, before tapping out of their shared screen on his tablet.Jimin beams, clicking off the screen on his own tablet and tucking it under his arm.“Will that be all, sir?” he bows primly.“Yes, that is all—“ Jimin bows a little lower, ready to excuse himself to leave the room, “—for the day.”“Sir?” Jimin says incredulously, standing back upright quickly. “It’s three o’clock. I pretty much just got back from lunch.”“Mmhmm.”Yoongi is already stuffing his personal items into his briefcase, clearly getting ready to leave the office.“You’re leaving too, sir?” Jimin runs his boss’s schedule in his mind. There, after ‘Review Q2 filings’ that ends at three pm, is a large rectangle of nothing. Nothing?! Min Yoongi doesn’t have work days of nothing. There’s always something. How did Jimin miss this?“Yes, I cancelled that boring meeting with Jang Minhyuk at three-thirty and took the liberty of updating the calendar myself,” Yoongi says brightly. Brightly! Since when does Min Yoongi speak brightly? Happy, pleased, warm - all yes. He’s not perpetually moody. He can be upbeat and cheerful. But he’s not exactly sunshine.“Hyung?” Jimin gapes, dropping his professional facade. This is an emergency.“Mm?”“Where are you going?”“Home?” Yoongi looks up from his briefcase, puzzled. “I need my beauty sleep.”It’s in the middle of the afternoon and he’s the CEO, but Jimin tactfully ignores that. The more important question is— “Since when do you care about beauty sleep? You care about sleep, full stop.”“Huh. Good point,” Yoongi zips up his bag and adjusts his grip on the handle, a small smile on his face. “Maybe it’s about time I do.”Jimin is so stunned by the unfazed response he just stands there like an idiot as Yoongi rounds his large oak table and heads for the door. Jimin hurries after him.“You’re already flawless,” whispers Jimin, shutting his boss’s office door behind him as they step onto the main floor.“Why, thank you.”“That’s not the point, hyung,” Jimin hisses.Yoongi gives him an amused glance. “Glad to see you’re dropping the whole sir shtick.”“I’m not dropping it!” Jimin says, appalled, but they’ve reached the elevator, ignoring the suspiciously ducked heads of the staff on this floor, and Yoongi jabs at the elevator call button.Jimin doesn’t even know where to begin to ask. Instead he watches dumbly as Yoongi bounces on the soles of his feet. That’s right, bounces.“Who are you and what have you done with Min Yoongi?” Jimin demands in a heated whisper.But the elevator arrives just then, and Yoongi steps into it with a little confused laugh.“You need some sleep, Jimin,” says Yoongi pleasantly. “Have a nice rest of the day.”The elevator doors shut in Jimin’s face.  “He’s getting some,” Jimin stabs the last piece of meat on his plate fiercely. “Not even some. He’s getting a lot.”“I have to say, Jimin-ah,” Namjoon answers, picking up his meat in a more delicate manner. “This wasn’t what I expected when you said you have something about Yoongi hyung you wanted to discuss with me.”“I’m happy for him but I just don’t get it,” Jimin frowns, ignoring Namjoon, “Why does he have to cancel work schedules to sleep with someone? I mean, he has his fancy penthouse and nights to himself. Maybe he’s too busy with his studio, is that it? Should I give him more time during the day? Why didn’t he speak to me about it?”“About needing more time for sex?”Okay, Namjoon doesn’t have to give him such a judgmental stare.“Yes,” Jimin glares at his boyfriend. He’s not getting this! “I’m his PA! Doesn’t he trust me?”“Don’t you think that’s a little personal of a conversation?”“There’s no such thing. I’m his PA. The word personal is literally in my title.”“Okay, then, it’s too…” Namjoon drums his fingers on the table and Jimin gets momentarily distracted. Namjoon has beautiful fingers, long and just perfectly slim but large— Focus, Jimin! “Intimate.”Jimin blanks out for a second because Namjoon is looking at him intensely and it’s a very attractive look. He shakes his head slightly to clear it.“Regardless, I’m here to clear his schedules so that he doesn’t have to. I think he’s hooked on sex and not thinking straight.”“Okay, back up. Why in the world do you even think he’s cancelling work schedules for sex?”“You’re not listening!” Jimin chews on some meat aggressively. “It was three pm! He looked all zen and glowing and smiley! Clearly he was having some afternoon delights!”Namjoon chokes, laughter getting stuck in his throat. “What?”“See? Sex makes people think crazy.” He thrusts a glass of water at his boyfriend.Namjoon, eyes watering, accepts it and takes a few gulps. Jimin lets him swallow his food and his thoughts because he’s pretty sure he made a solid point.“Jimin-ah,” Namjoon says, putting down his glass. He has that intense look in his eyes again. Jimin feeds himself a roll, already feeling triumphant that Namjoon will agree with him.The nerve of Min Yoongi to cancel a meeting for a hook up without consulting Jimin first!“Have you considered that Yoongi hyung is dating someone?”Jimin promptly chokes on his roll.  “Okay, I can see it,” Jimin whispers. On the other end of the line, Namjoon hums, prompting him to go on.Min Yoongi, previously highly scary CEO of the thirteenth floor, he who wears suits in black and grey and likes his coffee deathly black. Min Yoongi, who nods and hums when he greets people, who can’t make eye contact to save his life. Min Yoongi, who was first in the office and one of the last to leave, only to disappear into his super secret music studio that’s only known to Kim Namjoon and Park Jimin.The Min Yoongi that Jimin is staring at now is a moderately scary CEO of the thirteenth floor who apparently wears a fuzzy blue sweater paired with light acid-washed jeans. Okay, he still likes his coffee deathly black. But he smiles and says ‘Good morning’ and ‘Hello’ to staff now even as he avoids their eyes. He was the first to reach office this morning yet is the first to leave, at four pm this time. Jimin doubts that he’s going to disappear into his super secret music studio that’s only known to Kim Namjoon and himself.Yoongi has stopped by the Head of Finance’s desk on his way to the elevator and is talking to her. That never happens.“Should I follow him?”“No,” Namjoon answers right away. “That sounds a lot like stalking.”“But it’s not. Stalking is a lot scarier sounding.”“You are scaring me right now,” Namjoon deadpans.“Oh, you’re scared of the stove,” Jimin dismisses him.“That’s different!”Jimin watches as Yoongi says goodbye to his Head of Finance with a smile. Seriously! If Jimin isn’t wearing contacts he’d rub his eyes the way they do in cartoons.“How else am I going to find out where he’s going?” Jimin pouts.“You don’t,” Namjoon says patiently. “Leave him alone.”“But—““I’m HR, and I say don’t follow your boss, Park Jimin.”“Oh yeah? Who are you going to report me to? Yourself or your boss whom I’m stalking?”“Park Jimin,” Namjoon says in a low voice, and that’s— that’s cheating.“Don’t use your alpha voice on me,” Jimin hisses. Whines. Begs. He’s feeling very submissive omega right now.“I’m not using my—“ Namjoon sighs. “Look, hyung will tell us when he’s ready. Let him be happy and secretive and whatever it is—““Horny. Lovesick. Unsympathetic towards his PA—““—and he’ll come to us with good news one fine day.”“That sucks.”“Park Jimin.”Cheater! Jimin pouts. “Okay, okay.”“Look, I’ve got to go.”“Alright, alright, Mr VP.”“Hyung let you off early, didn’t he?”“He did,” sulks Jimin.“Come on, it’s a good thing.”“Okay, fine, it is.”“Go and buy yourself something nice, okay? For me?”Jimin perks up at that. He can do that.“Hasn’t it been some time since I had a surprise, baby?”“Gotta go hyung, bye!” Jimin jabs at the hang up button on his phone and practically yanks his airpods from his ears in his rush, Min Yoongi now far from his mind.  Jimin has a list.There’s Kim Myeongseok from Advertising. He’s kind and has a great smile, and Jimin has seen him chatting with Yoongi before at company events. Jimin can see Yoongi fall for someone with a nice smile, because that’s probably one of the ways Yoongi can look at someone new face to face long enough to create some sparks.And then there’s Jung Kyungdo from IT, who invited the whole company to his photography exhibition a couple of months ago. Yoongi had actually attended it, which Jimin found suspicious. Yoongi usually tries to avoid these events because he doesn’t want to make his staff uncomfortable but mainly because he’s a severe case of a homebody. But maybe Yoongi likes Jung Kyungdo’s laugh, because it’s a very warm, full body laugh. It’s how the guy is rather popular in the company.Next on Jimin’s list is a dancer who works in Partnerships named Son Hojoon. Yoongi likes the arts and people who appreciate music. Son Hojoon with his tendency to accompany his presentations with animated hand gestures, sudden body rolls and random footwork makes him pretty eye catching. Jimin has seen Yoongi look amused instead of irritated. Maybe it’s led them somewhere.For the life of him though, Jimin can’t imagine how Yoongi would pull off dating one of those guys. He’s usually alone when he isn’t in meetings, often shut in his office.Jimin sighs. He’s sitting at the office building cafe and at the table opposite him, a guy sitting there looks up and stares at him quizzically. The guy has long black hair to his chin with blond highlights. It’s a pretty unique hairstyle that Jimin vaguely remembers j-hope from Ethereal having for their mall opening ceremony a year ago. Was it really that long ago? Funny how being a fan makes you think of them at random moments.Jimin remembers teasing Yoongi about meeting j-hope. He smiles slightly at his latte. That was fun.Wait.Wait a minute.Jimin sits up. Yoongi liked j-hope’s visuals, didn’t he? What if?What if Yoongi has a type and the person he’s dating looks like j-hope?Jimin’s gaze snaps back up to the guy sitting opposite. He’s still watching Jimin.Eureka!Jimin grabs his cup (he’s an eco guy and brings his own cup to the cafe, thank you very much) and marches over to the guy.“Hello,” chirps Jimin.The guy looks at him curiously but is smiling. “Yes?”“Do you know Min Yoongi?”The guy stares at him. “Our CEO?”“Yes. Do you know him?”“I’ve never spoken to him in my life.”Jimin’s enthusiasm leaves him entirely. He scowls at the guy, who is now looking bewildered. Okay, fair.“Are you sure?” Jimin presses.“Why would I lie about this?” the guy says. Then he squints at Jimin. “Aren’t you his PA? Is this some sort of employee survey you’re reporting to him?”The guy looks a little alarmed.“No, it’s not. I was just— ugh, forget it.”“Really?” the guy tilts his head. Man, that’s a j-hope gesture, Jimin thinks. “So is it okay if I ask if you’re single?”“What?”“What? You’re cute,” the guy says, and winks at Jimin.Jimin is kind of flattered but he’s not in the mood. He turns up his nose.“I’m taken.”“Not for long if you give me your number.”Jimin gasps. How rude!“What’s your name?”“Kim Eunjae, what’s yours?”“Leave me alone or I’m reporting you to HR, Kim Eunjae,” Jimin says, putting on his best haughty voice. “Who is, by the way, also taken, so don’t try your lines on him!”He walks away with his latte, lowkey fuming. Not for long if you give me your number— how daring of him!Thank goodness that j-hope wannabe isn’t the guy Yoongi’s dating. How offensive to j-hope, too.  If there is one good thing that came out of MinCoMall’s opening ceremony a year ago, Jimin thinks, it’s an unexpected relationship.Because who would expect Park Jimin, OT4 superfan and V bias, to befriend Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung?It all started when JK hijacked JIN’s email thread - Jimin had been so surprised to see an email from the band after the ceremony was over. He was terrified to open the email. What if the band had a list of post-event complaints? Did Minstradamus’ finance team forget to pay them? Did Ethereal have a problem with Jimin and wrote in via email to fight?But no, it was sweet JK, who wanted more restaurant recommendations.And so JK soon became Jungkook-ssi with whom Jimin exchanged emails that became more and more casual and out of topic. Then Jungkook asked for Jimin’s KakaoTalk ID, because he said that he would be going on tour soon and it would be troublesome to email.It was strange, receiving the first KakaoTalk with a Hi, this is Jungkook! Did you see the funny video on IG I sent you?Because the superstar had somehow found it necessary to spam him with millennial Instagram reels and dance challenge TikToks. And that was how he became Jeon Jungkookie to Jimin in a matter of months.It hadn’t taken long for Jimin to figure out Jungkook was dating Taehyung, and he swore to them during their first double date that he’d keep it to his grave. Soon enough, Jimin’s long-time status as superfan transformed to close friend. He’s no longer starstruck, and the fascination he had for their songs and visuals soon turned into admiration for their musicality and acceptance that he is now flanked by two very good looking men in addition to his very handsome boyfriend.Jimin’s mentioned this strange development to Yoongi, of course, but Yoongi had looked mildly disinterested and even uncomfortable. Perhaps he’s concerned for Jimin, because Yoongi was on the listening end of one too many Ethereal fanboy rants. Even Namjoon had expressed some concern if he wasn’t just blinded by Jungkook and Taehyung’s stardom.Jimin has, however, stopped trying to make Yoongi listen to Ethereal’s songs. Despite that, miraculously, his years of effort as a Unicorn must be paying off. Jimin has recently heard his boss listen to the band’s music in his office. It’s loud enough to be heard from his desk outside his boss’s door. Maybe Ethereal’s performance at MinCoMall’s opening ceremony did it for Yoongi. Jimin can’t blame him - one lowkey mini-concert is enough to convert anyone from human to Unicorn.Jimin vaguely wonders who Yoongi’s bias is. He thinks he hears j-hope’s voice most often that must mean Yoongi tends to play his solo songs quite a lot, but then again j-hope’s songs usually come with guitar solos and Yoongi has always been a guitar man. His own songs that he sells have always been EG-heavy; Agust D loves his guitars.Maybe JIN, Jimin decides, because JIN is Worldwide Handsome and plays the keys. It’s not the first time he comes across a male fan biasing JIN. He’s pretty sure his Namjoonie does, too, although he never mentioned it; Namjoon has a thing for pretty boys.  Yoongi asks Jimin to order a bouquet of flowers.That in itself isn’t rare, because Yoongi sends flowers to some of their partners and clients from time to time. What’s rare is that Yoongi asks him to send it to their office instead of the recipients’. Apparently Yoongi wants to gift it to them personally.But Jimin isn’t stupid.While Yoongi hasn’t explicitly mentioned it’s in the name of Minstradamus, he hasn’t said it’s personal either - and that’s where Jimin thinks it’s actually a personal gift for whomever Yoongi is dating.Also, he ordered roses.If that doesn’t spell romance!He tactfully refrains from asking though, because Namjoon did say to - ugh - leave Yoongi alone and wait for him to tell them himself, ladeeda. Jimin respects his friend enough to do so, although he doesn’t quite believe that approach. He’s more the type of friend to ask directly.But Namjoon knows Yoongi for longer and better, so.So, here Jimin is, knocking on Yoongi’s door with the freshly delivered bouquet of roses.“Come in.”“Here are the flowers, sir,” Jimin says politely, entering the office.“Not your sir,” Yoongi replies automatically.Jimin smiles at him, ever so patient. He lays the bouquet gently on Yoongi’s oak desk.“Will that be all? Do you need me to prepare a card?”“Oh. Yes, a card will be perfect. But let me write it myself. Can you just get me markers? And a plain card?”Jimin stares at him. “You want to handwrite it?”“Yes,” Yoongi peers at him over the rim of his glasses. “Do you have a problem with that, Jiminie?”“No, I don’t, sir,” simpers Jimin. “Just concerned about your wrist.”Yoongi gives him a bemused look. Jimin bows and makes himself scarce. He pilfers two markers from the common stationery desk, then goes to Advertising to request some nice paper from them. He decides to do his hyung a favour and grab not just a plain white card with fancy gold-trimmed borders, but also a ribbon and a hole puncher. That way, Yoongi can attach it to the bouquet.He heads back up to the office to find Yoongi packing up. He hands the materials over silently.“Thank you, Jimin,” Yoongi smiles at him, and Jimin bites his tongue. Oh, he’s dying to ask. “I’m heading off soon, you can head home too, alright?”“Yes sir, thank you sir,” bows Jimin.Yoongi is sitting back down in his seat to write on the card. Jimin lingers, curious, wonders if he can sneak a peek…“That will be all, Jimin-ah,” Yoongi is peering at him again over his glasses, hand already poised over the card.Jimin clears his throat, racks his brain for an excuse to stay. “Ah, yes, right. I just wanted to ask if I can have your tablet to check if it’s updated with the latest schedule?”“It’s cloud-based, I’m sure it is,” Yoongi says.Jimin smiles, “Yes, but I will also need to ensure a few new files are synced. These are busy days, with the FY ending and all.”“It’s mid-February, we have more than a month. You can find time to do it tomorrow, I’m sure.”“But tomorrow’s Thursday,” Jimin says.“Yes, and?”Jimin raises his eyebrows, trying not to smirk. “It’s town hall day. We’re usually busy with preparing the presentation and then the department updates meeting, and then the whole afternoon is taken.”“So the day after.”“I’m on leave,” says Jimin sweetly.“Right, right,” Yoongi nods. “Namjoonie’s parents are coming to town.”“Yes, sir.”“It’s alright then,” Yoongi hums placidly. “Do it next week.”“But today is February eighteenth,” Jimin says, and as he says it he immediately thinks of j-hope. Fanboy habit, to have the members’ birthdays ingrained in his brain. “Next Monday is the twenty-second and you’d need to sign off on all the finances minimum three days before the invoices’ cut off date, which is the twenty-fifth. I scheduled you to look it all over tomorrow in my absence, so they’d be ready for finance before the weekend.”Yoongi grumbles under his breath, now annoyed, “Fine.”Yoongi retrieves his tablet from his drawer and unlocks it, then hands it over. Jimin snatches it before Yoongi can change his mind.He does check that the right files are synced, and also that Yoongi’s schedule has the latest update. All the while trying to peek at what Yoongi is writing. It proves impossible, because Yoongi has a thin, slanted writing that’s beautiful when read the right way up but difficult for Jimin to discern each character from upside down.Reluctantly, once everything is in order, he gives up and is just about to hand the tablet back when a notification pops up. He sees from the preview that it’s an email from the marketing team asking for Yoongi’s approval to use a few pictures from a recent company event with him in it. Jimin taps on the notification to open the email and quickly checks the pictures, since Yoongi doesn’t care about this sort of thing. Aware that there are better options, he mentally tsks the team and goes to attach a couple of other pictures as replacements. The app, however, defaults to Yoongi’s personal cloud folder rather than the company’s shared drive, given that it is Yoongi’s personal tablet. And, wow—“Oh,” he exclaims, so surprised that he forgets to be professional. “I didn’t expect this, hyung.”Yoongi looks up, “Huh?”Jimin spins the tablet around to face his boss so that he sees the screen. Or rather, the collection of j-hope pictures he has saved in his cloud gallery.Yoongi visibly pales, “Jimin, I can explain—““You don’t have to, hyung,” Jimin laughs, so excited he abandons his usual sirs. “I knew it, really—““You do?” Yoongi looks stunned.“I mean, you haven’t been subtle.”“But I didn’t tell you, I thought you’d be disappointed—““Well, I am, but I get it that you’d want to enjoy them in your own time.”Pause. “Them?”“Ethereal,” Jimin nods enthusiastically. “But I suppose you’ve been focusing more on j-hope, huh?”Yoongi stares at him, apparently unsure what to say. Jimin sympathises, being caught for fanboying can be a little embarrassing.“Just a little tip from me, it’s important to be OT4, okay, hyung? You can have a bias, sure, you’re pretty hardcore about it, too. Like, wow, I didn’t even realise when j-hope posted these. You’ve got to share your sources, I’m a twitter stan myself but it’s hard to keep up. Anyways, j-hope bias, got it. Your secret is safe with me, hyung! I won’t even tell Taehyungie and Jungkookie they’ve got a new fan. And I definitely won’t tell them you’re a Hobi bias,” Jimin winks for good measure.Yoongi is still staring at him, dumbfounded. Jimin finishes attaching the right photos, writes a short response in the email, and sends it off.“All done,” Jimin chirps. “I replied your latest email for you. It’s a photo thing, that’s why I was in your gallery, sorry. But don’t worry, I didn’t see anything incriminating in there.”“Thanks, Jimin,” Yoongi takes the tablet back, blinking.“Have a nice day,” Jimin is so pleased to have Yoongi come clean about being a Unicorn he isn’t even mad any longer that he doesn’t know any more than he does about Yoongi’s mysterious roses bouquet recipient.“You too,” Yoongi answers faintly.Jimin lets himself out, smiling. He was wrong about Yoongi’s bias being JIN, but at least he got confirmation that Yoongi is officially an Ethereal fan!  Jimin doesn’t bring it up. It’s been months now, and things have sort of become more or less stable.Jimin, Namjoon, Jungkook and Taehyung have built a steady friendship with more double dates and a group chat.Yoongi continues to be his lovesick self and Jimin doesn’t annoy him anymore about finding someone to date, or actively investigate who it is. His hyung is happy, and over time Jimin has grown to accept it without expecting further information.They continue to listen to Ethereal. The latest album is so good, and another tour is scheduled for the next year, with enough time in between for another comeback. Jimin has to get tickets, this time. And if he can’t get them the normal way, he wonders if he can ask Taehyung and Jungkook for tickets. This time he’ll bring Namjoon and Yoongi along, too!It’s nearing the end of the year when, over dinner with Jungkook and Taehyung, they finally decide that it’s time for a gathering with both friend groups combined.“We’ve all met before anyways, during your mall’s opening ceremony,” Taehyung says.“That was almost two years ago,” Jimin laughs. “I doubt JIN and j-hope remember us.”“Trust me, they didn’t forget,” Jungkook says, looking amused. “I’m pretty sure Yoongi-ssi will remember us, too. Don’t you think?”That’s pretty confident of Jungkook, but Jimin doesn’t say anything. Maybe it’s a superstar trait. Regardless, Jimin had promised he won’t tell Taehyung and Jungkook that Yoongi is now a fan, and he plans to keep his promise, so he doesn’t answer Jungkook.“I’d have to check with Yoongi hyung’s schedule,” he says instead.“Oh, we can always—““No, no, I’m his PA,” Jimin says confidently. “I’ll do it and organise something for all of us.”“Well, if you’re sure.”“Definitely.”“Alright, thanks Jimin hyung.”And so it’s planned - a chill and private brunch. Jimin rents out a new, hip cafe’s entire floor. He slowtalks Yoongi into attending, aware that he might feel overwhelmed, but assures him that the Ethereal guys are all very down to earth and kind, you’ll love them, hyung!Yoongi, initially looking doubtful, smiles by the end of Jimin’s passionate speech, and promises to be there.  It’s a lovely wintery Sunday, the day of the planned brunch. Jimin arrives first with Namjoon, and then JIN, who walks in with his striking visuals obscured by the low brim of a baseball hat and face mask.Jimin is nothing if not charming, so he greets JIN warmly and soon they’re chatting like old friends - meaning they’re talking about how weird yet lovable Jeon Jungkook is and the many endearing oddities of Kim Taehyung. Jimin now gets to call JIN Seokjin hyung! He’s absurdly pleased by this development.Taehyung and Jungkook arrive next, and the atmosphere gets warmer as they greet each other with hugs and back pats. Coffees arrive, but they hold off from ordering their mains to wait for the last two.“Oh, they’re downstairs, coming up,” Seokjin announces, looking up from his phone, while Jimin is in mid-sip of his iced mocha.He quickly swallows, “Both of them?”“Yes?” Seokjin is looking at him strangely, as if scrutinising him.Jimin doesn’t say anything else, in case he accidentally reveals the fact that of all members, j-hope will probably intimidate Yoongi the most. He can’t expose his cool, unaffected, nonchalant friend-boss!There are footsteps on the staircase, and all of them turn to look.And then both of them appear. Yoongi, in a warm black coat and his hair looking mussed from the December wind. j-hope, in a thick red-and-tan coloured jacket and a lime green beanie. Jimin is so amused by their opposing tastes in fashion that he almost doesn’t register the fact that they’re holding hands.That’s right: Yoongi is holding hands with j-hope.Jimin sits there, stunned, while everyone else says their hellos. Even Namjoon merely looks amused. This is an earth shattering moment, why is everyone so calm?!“Ah, finally, coming clean, are we?” Seokjin is laughing, as he goes to shake Yoongi’s hand.“Isn’t it strange if we don’t while being in the same room?” j-hope laughs.“Hoseok, this is Jimin and Namjoon,” Yoongi introduces them.“Pleased to meet you,” j-hope - Hoseok! - says, his heart-shaped smile directed at them.“Happy to meet you too,” Namjoon replies warmly. “I’m glad you’ve been taking care of hyung well.”Hoseok blushes immediately, the folded tips of his ears peeking out from under his beanie reddening. “Thank you for being kind and giving me a chance.”“You’ve made hyung really happy—“Jimin nearly knocks his drink over as he reaches out to grasp his boyfriend’s shoulder. “You knew?!”Namjoon turns to him, puzzled. “Don’t we all?”“We do?!”Namjoon’s expression turns to alarm. “But you’ve been hinting all year about knowing Yoongi hyung’s deepest, darkest secret!”“I—“ Jimin’s mind is spinning. That was about Yoongi’s super duper secret fanboying!The other Ethereal members are looking at him in surprise.“Yoongi didn’t tell you guys he’s dating Hobi?” Seokjin asks curiously.“I didn’t,” says Yoongi apologetically. “Honestly, I thought both of them figured it out because I was obvious about it.”“You were not!” Jimin protests.“But you were the one who told me hyung’s always listening to j-hope’s music, and he has unreleased photos of him,” says Namjoon. Traitor! Why didn’t his own boyfriend tell him? “He’s been going on dates and you stopped asking who it is, so I thought you knew and was keeping it quiet like I was.”“I thought he’s a j-hope bias,” whispers Jimin. “Oh my god, I’m so stupid.”“No you’re not,” Yoongi winces and comes closer, looking guilty. “I should have told you, it’s my bad. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you feel like I was leaving you out.”Jimin feels distinctly humiliated, but on hindsight… He’s been an idiot, hasn’t he?“I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier.”“Well, to be fair, Taehyungie hyung realised it only recently too,” Jungkook offers.Taehyung laughs, “I’m probably the last to realise he’s even seeing anyone. It took an album full of lovey-dovey lyrics for me to suspect anything.”Hoseok smacks him on the arm. “Hey! No spoilers!”“Then I figured that the Yoongi hyung who keeps appearing on his phone’s notifications isn’t just a friend.”“Seriously, Tae, his contact is saved with like seven different coloured heart emojis,” Seokjin deadpans.“That’s just Hobi hyung!”“Even the three of us have a single heart each,” Jungkook is giggling.“That was around a month ago when Taehyung finally asked Hoseok directly and we all finally got verbal confirmation,” Seokjin tells Jimin. “So don’t feel bad.”“He asked first thing in the morning, too. Caught me off guard,” Hoseok grumbles.Yoongi squeezes Jimin’s hand. There is an apology in his eyes. Jimin’s shock, fading slowly, now disappears. He recalls how Yoongi had always seemed so doubtful of love. How resistant he’s been to relationships and how busy with music and work his life has been. Compare that to the recent days of smiles and shorter working days, Yoongi is obviously happier than he’s ever been. This isn’t about Jimin and it isn’t like Yoongi is keeping it secret for a targeted vendetta against him. Clearly, Yoongi is keeping something he treasures close to him, so close he’s been afraid of mentioning it even to his best of friends.So Jimin swallows his embarrassment and pride and self-indignation and says, “Well, this is a good thing to be caught off-guard about.”He squeezes Yoongi’s hand back. Hopes his smile conveys his sincere happiness that Yoongi’s found something worthwhile to care about all these years.“Wait, how long exactly?” he asks, looking from Yoongi to Hoseok.“Well, we met because of MinCoMall’s opening, which was two years ago,” Yoongi says. “And then we became closer throughout Ethereal’s comeback and tour.”“It felt like the longest tour ever, because I couldn’t see hyung,” reminisces Hoseok. “When we were back in Seoul, Yoongi hyung proposed that we become boyfriends. That was in the beginning of summer last year.”“So a whole year of long-distance sort of dating?” Jimin gapes. Poor Yoongi.“Yeah, it would’ve been harder if we were already together, but thankfully Ethereal had our break after the tour.”“We could really spend time then, as boyfriends,” Yoongi recalls, smiling and blushing slightly. Jimin is fascinated by this rare sight, but it’s overwhelming to him and he looks away momentarily. The others are listening closely too; Jimin supposes such details haven’t reached them as well.“So you’ve been officially together for about a year,” Seokjin concludes. “Because we had our break over summer last year and then released our next album in the winter. I found out it’s Yoongi at MuBank during comeback promotions.”“I only found out early this year,” shrugs Jungkook.“Wow,” breathes Jimin. “You’ve been dating j-hope for over a year.”“Lucky me,” says Yoongi, and he leans over to peck Hoseok on the cheek.Hoseok blushes and everyone coos.“While this is really lovely,” Jungkook says, grinning, “Shall we order?”They settle down in their seats and conversation comes naturally. They talk about food and music and everyday occurrences that are interesting and funny. Soon there is laughter over good food and sweet coffee.The loving gazes of Yoongi and Hoseok are not lost on Jimin, who keeps a curious eye on them. His heart feels full.Sitting at a table, the seven of them celebrate both old and new friendships; as well as old and new love stories.