"...you hold all my secrets and you are the one thing that can destroy me if you choose to." -Kim Seokjin
He spent his entire life doing what he was told to uphold the family name, but when one decision could make a lasting impression on his reputa...
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After our shift was complete, Jungkook and I met our friend Hoseok for dinner. Hobi, as we affectionately call him, got a new job as a chef for a hip and trendy restaurant down in Itaewon. We were out to celebrate his good fortune.
Jungkook, Hobi, and I have been friends for as far as I can remember. Jungkook moved from Busan to Seoul when he was young. I was lucky enough to meet him in my Taekwondo classes as a kid. Hobi and I attended high school and college together. Though he majored in Business, culinary arts have always been his love. So he pursued it, and Jungkook and I are waiting for the day he will open his own restaurant.
I'm beyond proud of my friends as we shared laughs with a bowl of some of the best chicken in Seoul while they drunk beer and soju.
"Hey, you heard from Jimin, Hobi?" I wondered.
He shook his head, and he chased his soju with a big gulp of beer. "Mmm, ah, that's good. Not for a couple of weeks. He will be in Japan for a while. By the way, JK said you and Taehyung..." Hobi raised his brow.
Treachery has been exposed.
I gave a side-eye to JK, who tried to drown himself in his beer. "Thanks, friend." I cut my stare back to Hobi. "Yes, I went out with Taehyung. Why is this such a big deal?"
This is the reason I didn't tell Hobi or Jungkook that Taehyung hung out a little in college. Nothing ever progressed with us, and I'm sure that less than tamed now ex-wife had a lot to do with it. Maybe I could have saved him and fought for him, but Taehyung always walked to the beat of his own drum. It's no secret why his former love pursued him, but there were already words crossed between Sunhee and me, so I let it be. Besides, it's been a little hard to date when you have these two hanging around.
"You know why. If Sunhee ever found out Taehyung was dating..."
"Wait-Isn't she dating that ex-idol? Um, what was his name?" Hobi asked.
Jungkook shrugged, and I looked at Hobi as if he had a third eye.
"Where did you hear that, Hobi?" I asked.
"Social media." He responded.
Jungkook and I shared a glance.
"You know people lie on those things all the time, Hobi. She just said that to draw attention; that's how she is." Jungkook spoke before taking a piece of chicken.
Hobi shrugged. "Whatever; so are you going to tell us about the date or- "
Broken record. A long sigh drew from my lips as I slumped back in my seat.
"She's biting her lip and forming a unibrow." Jungkook teased.
"Hey! I don't have a unibrow." I protested.
"Then stop overthinking and just tell us." Hobi retorted as he took a sip of his drink.
"Fine." I blurted as I sat up straight and took a piece of chicken from the plate. "He took me to this fancy restaurant in Gangnam; good thing I dressed for the occasion. He was nice and polite. We talked about work and our college days, and then he took me home. That's it."
Jungkook and Hobi stared at me as if I had horns growing from my head. Did they expect me to say more? I'm not sure what they are waiting for.
"Sounds romantic," Hobi spoke with an even tone.
"Yeah, it does." Jungkook followed in the wavelength of the older's voice.
"What is with the tone, and yeah, I guess it was, but I wasn't..." I sighed. I will admit that Taehyung was very romantic with the setting. I mean, the dim lighting set the mood for our date, and there was wine for him because I don't drink. Taehyung is charming and toothache sweet, but there is a void in him, and I'm not the one to fill it. Not to mention, he's not over Sunhee.
"You weren't what?" Jungkook asked.
"Nevermind. Finish your food."
After dinner, Jungkook walked me home. The season is changing, and soon, we won't be able to walk out on a late summer, pre-autumn night like this. My friends tell me I should get a car, but why? We are in a vast city with tons of public transportation, and I enjoy taking the train. It's not like I just moved here; I've spent my entire life here. I was born here.
"How're your parents?" Jungkook asked.
"They are fine. They found a wonderful home in a city in North Carolina. Now they are enjoying retirement."
Jungkook stopped cold in his tracks, "You aren't moving, are you?"
"Why would I do that?"
My friend shrugged. "I mean, you are American, and you have citizenship there."
"Yeah, but I was born here, and I like it here. You all are here, and I'm not ready to give you up." I smiled.
A huge grin spread across his face. "Good, because we wouldn't let you move."
"Why am I not surprised?" I playfully shoved Jungkook.
We reached my apartment. I said my goodbyes to Jungkook and hopped up to my steps quickly as I felt the chill. I opened my door, feeling the immediate warmth coming from it. Kicking off my shoes, I slid on my slippers and dragged into my bedroom, falling face-first on my bed.
Only a few more hours more before my shift in the morning.
I pulled out my phone and started browsing through my social media. If I'm honest with myself, I can live without it. I only keep it because Hobi will sneak in photos of us, and I need to know what face of mine he's posting. It's not a total loss. I check in with my family in America and see relatives I've yet to meet in person.
Until you come up with a profile like Lee Sunhee.
I'm not even friends with her, but she keeps her profile open so everyone can see what she's doing. Ugh, just like that, social media browsing ends.
It's time for bed, anyway.
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Meet the Cast (some)
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