Irene thanked Taehyung text to distract her attention from the pretentious family in the table. It was kind of nauseating how her sister latched to Bogum arm like a barnacle on stone. Irene wanted to say something about it but she restrained her tongue, well, that was a lie. The only thing that restrain her was her mother pinch under the table.

Damn. It gonna bruised tomorrow. Irene had enough of the pleasant dinner(in sarcasm) or precisely of her mother abuse under the table. So, she did what should have she done an hour ago, went home. She smiled, and stood up. “Well, I have to go to work tomorrow so I should go home.” She said politely.

Damn it, she hoped she could just leave with haughty attitude but she was still Korean. She couldn’t just do that. Nah, it was just excuse, Irene knew the real reason was her mother wouldn’t let her off the hook.

If she didn’t get aftermath after this, she would do that. But to experience Mother of Terror just for leaving dinner table? It was a trade off. Hey, call her coward or whatever you want but you never experience how her mother would barged into her house and took over it like the freaking invader from APE planet.

“Just take a day off.” Her mother whined.

NO WAY! Chang min would kill her or she would kill her self for being stupid to torture herself in this table longer. “I can’t, eomma. This is very important project.” She couldn’t help to add, “I will buy you new Gucci bag if it success.” She left when she saw her mother eyes sparkled in delight.

Ha! Let Bogum see. That without him, she was independent and rich. She could get better man than him. A better man  who aren’t ist and patriarchal. Damn, she could even get much younger guys.

Like Taehyung.

No! No! No! Naughty brain! Not Taehyung! But she couldn’t help but to glance to Taehyung table once more and at the same time Taehyung raised his head, their eyes met then her cheeks flushed in red. . Why her body became so rebellious? Irene picked up the pace and got out from the restaurant.

The night weather cooled down her cheeks but not the her heart. Her heart beat loudly inside her chest like it was going to explode. Irene took deep breath before walk to the bus station. Oh my god, why he had just been there? Her composure was destroyed when she heard message from her phone.

Did Taehyung just send her another text? Irene couldn’t help herself but to be excited and swipe the screen as fast as lightning Macqueen. But the high anticipated message didn’t come from Taehyung but instead from the last person she wanted to hear.

Park Bogum.

‘We need to talk.’

Irene sighed and contemplate to reply but in the end you couldn’t talk to . It just didn’t work so she did the most rational thing, delete it. Out of sight out of mind.

***

When Taehyung woke up this morning, he felt the sun shines brighter than usual, the air was fresher than yesterday, and the flower is smelled better than usual, well not that he deliberately crouch down to sniff it. He suddenly wanted to hum Ikon ‘My Type’ and that what he did until a smack came from behind him.

“Hyung!” Taehyung whined pitifully.

“Stop singing you , or I will cut your salary.” Myungsoo hated when Taehyung seemed happy while he felt like utter crap. It was like thousand little Taehyung started a rock concert mixed with soprano singer in his head. 

“Wow, I thought Myungsoo hyung couldn’t be meaner, but I was wrong.” Jungkook comment cheekily. 

Myungsoo glared was enough to make Jungkook whimper but of course Myungsoo had to add, “I thought human would die when they lost 2 liters blood, wanna prove me wrong?” 

Taehyung and Jungkook gulped, and continued to prepare the shop opening. When they saw Myungsoo entered the office both of them sighed, “I know that your cheekiness would lead us into death someday.” Taehyung said,

“Me? Who hummed Ikon My Type since this morning even though you see Myungsoo hyung red eyes?” Jungkook shot back.

“How could I know that humming would make him explode?” Taehyung couldn’t believe it suddenly it became his fault. “Usually it takes more than Boss antic to make him explode, something definitely happen to him.”

“Something definitely happen to you.” Jungkook said. Well, Myungsoo being grumpy is ordinary, and Taehyung became happy and giddy, well also ordinary if not Jimin said that he couldn’t stop smiling and giggling every five minutes. Jungkook just proved it. He was freaking giggling a lot and seemed lost in his imagination 

Taehyung flushed, “Why do you think something happen to me?”  

“Really you want to ask me that?” Jungkook rolled his eyes, “The fact you ask me why means I am right.” Sometimes Jungkook felt frustrated with how innocent and naïve Kim Taehyung. Only sometimes, okay. Because usually he enjoyed to rile him or playing prank on him.

Taehyung tan skin had this tingle of red, his ear felt hot and burning. “N..nothing happen you know.”

“Yes, and I ride unicorn on to the work.” He didn’t bother to conceal his sarcasm. “Just tell me, Hyung. Did something happen last night?” Jungkook urged him.

Taehyung opened his mouth, then his smile became wider and brighter. If a smile could literally shining brighter than the sun, Taehyung’s smile would provide whole Seoul light for a week full.  

“I met Joohyun noona last night!” he answered cheerfully. “We met at the same family restaurant with our family.” Taehyung couldn’t help but to let happiness affect his tone. “And I started to text her last night too.” 

Jungkook couldn’t believe it, how could he? With Taehyung ability (or disability) to get beautiful customer phone number let alone to text her would take him a life time heck even double life time, how could he text her? What about Jungkook whom couldn’t even have eye contact with his crush?

There must be omnipotent force that help Taehyung. Impossible he can do it by himself. Jungkook just didn’t know that omnipotent force was the devil boss upstairs. “How can you text her?” 

Taehyung shrugged, “Just type it.” He said nonchalantly. Jungkook jaw slacked so wide, how can Kim Taehyung said that nonchalantly? He was supposed to be a blushing naïveté maiden everytime they talk about love. When and How Jungkook lose?

If Jungkook wasn’t that shock he would realize that Taehyung just pretend to be nonchalant, in his heart he was anxious how to start conversation for today. Yesterday he could text her because he saw her so depress, but today what would they talk about?

“Yah!!” Myungsoo yelled from the office. “What the hell are you doing? Open the shop! Did money grow from your ing ?” He scolded them harshly.

Taehyung and Jungkook flinched. They shuddered, “Why do I regret to have morning shift today?” Taehyung mumbled. 

Jungkook shrugged, “I want to text my mom, if I couldn’t make it out alive today, I hope she will bury me with bed of roses.” He said and walked to the door. God, why did his coworkers have problem today? “And have attorney to sue Myungsoo hyung.” He walked out, but Taehyung grabbed his wrist.

“Let me open the shop and write the board outside.” He plead. 

Jungkook glared, “No way. You handle the board inside.” Who the hell wanted to stay longer inside? Myungsoo could get out from his room any time soon, and no one would love to face him right now, heck., no one would save from him right now. Myungsoo was like the angry dragon.

Taehyung paled several shade, “No. You do it!”

“You!”

“You!”

“You!”

“You!”

“STILL NOT MOVING?” Jungkook and Taehyung jumped in terror, but Jungkook reflex was much more faster, so he shoved Taehyung down and ran toward the front door. Taehyung cursed in pain but he couldn’t do anything beside watching Jungkook dashed to the outside.

Lucky bastard. Taehyung made his way to the board near the hearth while praying to be saved from any kind of evil right now. If Myungsoo shouted once again, Taehyung knew he would die from heart attack. 

At the same time, Kim Jungkook who just made greatest escape enjoying his short victory. He wrote special menu for today in the front board when a white sneakers stopped in front of him.

“Umm…excuse me?” Jungkook raised his head and seeing the same customer that breaking up several weeks ago. The customer face blushed lightly and she fumbled with them of her cardigan. “Are you open yet?” she asked.

Jungkook knew his boss would kill him if he rejected this customer so he shrugged. “Yes, we are. Welcome to skipper.” He gave the best customer service smile he got. 

The girl smiled back, but hasn’t moved inside. What the heck did she want? “Ummm, thank you for the chocolate when I broke up.”

Jungkook mind went blank. He didn’t really remember when he made chocolate for her? He knew this girl broke up in the café, but as far as he remember he didn’t involve in any of it. Yet, before the recollection of his memory came back fully, the girl already got into the café, and Taehyung bass voice booming from inside. 

***