Jungkook POV

Jungkook finally found Namjoon off to the side of the room, cringing at the terrible music being played. Jungkook's coworker was talking to a young guy he'd never seen before, or at least didn't remember.

Namjoon looked away from the guy as Jungkook approached them. "Ahh, Jungkookie, where have you been? You got me worried you know. I thought you were going to miss out on all the fun!" He suddenly seemed to remember the man he had been talking to just before Jungkook showed up. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you. Jungkook, this is Taehyung. Taehyung, Jungkook."

Taehyung nodded to Jungkook as greeting and Jungkook made a tiny bow. Jungkook already liked Taehyung; he didn't try to impose conversation on him, yet he wasn't being disrespectful either.

"So, Jungkookie, where have you been?" he repeated, knowing that neither Taehyung or Jungkook would be the one to start the conversation.

"I've been... around," Jungkook replied evasively.

"So you ran into Chaeyoung, I'm taking," Namjoon said, getting straight to the point. 

"How did you know?" realizing too late that this was a trap. He just revealed that he'd encountered Chaeyoung, though his response didn't matter since Namjoon already knew this.

"Well, did you talk to her?"

"Not...really?"

"It's a yes or no question, Jungkook."

"No..." Jungkook replied, bowing his head in shame. It was surprising how similar Namjoon's tone was to a mother's, as well as how similar Jungkook was acting to a son who had just been caught breaking a rule.

"Well, you'd better," Namjoon said. "Or else Taehyung here will go for her. Right Taehyung?" he asked the other man, elbowing him in the side when he hesitated to respond.

"Oh yeah, totally. For sure," Taehyung said.

Jungkook studied Taehyung. He was certainly a handsome guy, with dyed greenish gray hair that came to a stop over his eyes. He had a very strong jawline, Jungkook noticed, with green contacts that made him look comparable to an alien. But an attractive alien. He also had a serious look to him, and it was clear he had a lot of confidence, but not so much so that it borderlined on arrogance.

I'm no match for him, Jungkook thought. Chaeyoung would probably be better off with him.

Namjoon was quick to notice the depressed look in Jungkook's eyes. "Dude, don't worry about it. Taehyung said he'll only go for Chaeyoung if you don't."

Jungkook mood was worsened at this attempt to cheer him up. "Yeah, well women aren't objects you can call dibs on. They're people that deserve equals. And there's no way I'm equal to her." Jungkook's mind flicked back to when Chaeyoung dragged him who knows how far to her house. And then nursed him back to health. And didn't even ask for a simple "thank you."

"Taehyung would probably be a better fit for her," Jungkook said, though he wasn't bitter about it. Truthfully, Jungkook thought that Chaeyoung deserved the best possible. And he clearly wasn't it if he couldn't even muster the courage to talk to her.

"Don't say that, man. It's not true." Namjoon wasn't giving up.

"I don't know why you're so sure that this will work out, Namjoon. It's just not going to happen."

"She likes you, Jungkook. I know she does."

"And how would you know that?" Jungkook asked, now suspicious.

"Let's just say... I have a feeling."

Jungkook sighed, knowing that Namjoon wouldn't give him a straight answer. "Well, I'm leaving. See you at work next week, I guess."

"Come on, dude. Don't be like that." After seeing the resolute look on his friend's face, he added, "Well at least tell me why you're leaving."

Jungkook was yet again reminded of a mother, and some innate desire to not disappoint kicked in. "My... hand hurts," he said lamely. It was true, but he had long ago learned to block out pain.

Namjoon seemed to suddenly remember Jungkook's injury, and looked apologetic for a second. But his expression hardened quickly afterward as he regained his composure. "If you leave now... I won't talk to you anymore."

"Resorting to threats now, huh?" Jungkook asked rhetorically. He knew this was an empty threat. Or at least, he thought he knew. It was only a week since Jungkook and Namjoon met, but they had created a pretty close bond... right? Could Namjoon possibly cut him off, just like that? He was his only friend in the office, the only person he really knew. He had no choice. "Fine," he said. "I'll stay. But you better not try anything."

"Like what?"

"Like trying to talk me into something I can't do." He stormed off in search of Jimin, hoping that the blonde could somehow lighten his mood.

*

Namjoon POV

"Damn, dude. That was low. Making him think I was making moves on his girl, then blackmailing him," Taehyung said.

"I did not blackmail him." Taehyung raised one eybrow. "Fine, I did. But I had to."

"Really? And how would involving me in this whole mess help your case?"

"Well, I had to give him an incentive, didn't I?" Namjoon asked, trying desperately to defend himself. "You saw how he is. He's so hard on himself, it's kind of despressing to see."

"Yeah, I have to agree with you on that," Taehyung said. "It's like... he sees some sort of value in everyone else that he doesn't see in himself." He paused for a moment. "You have to tell him that I don't like Chaeyoung." Namjoon was about to interject, but Taehyung shut him up. "First of all, it's probably eating himself up inside. He's probably comparing himself to me, which is very unhealthy. Everyone has different qualities that makes them who they are. Second of all, it's bothering me, too. I love Chaeyoung like a sister; ever since I've dated Lisa, she's always been around. And lying to this Jungkook guy like this? It makes me feel like I'm betraying everyone."

"Wow... you're so philosophical all of a sudden. What's gotten into you?"

Taehyung grinned, showing off his boxy smile. "I don't know. But if even the notion of hurting Lisa, even if it's the smallest chance, just makes me feel sick."

"You guys are gross, you know that?" Taehyung chuckled, and Namjoon couldn't help but join in; his laughter was contagious. After a while, he said, "Give me your phone. I need to talk to her."

Taehyung sighed. "I also don't like the idea of giving you my phone to text my girlfriend, especially since you guys always delete your messages afterwards."

"Can I have her phone number then?"

"No."

"Jealous much?" Namjoon teased, although he perfectly understood where Taehyung was coming from. He and Lisa were acting sketchy, and there was no way he could argue otherwise. He knew that he could no longer keep the plan secret from Taehyung. But he had to trust that Taehyung would keep it a secret. "How close are you to Chaeyoung?" he asked.

"Like I said, we're like siblings."

Namjoon contemplated this.for a moment, weighing the risks against the benefits. He finally made up his mind. "Fine. I have a compromise. Let me talk to Lisa on the phone, and I'll put it on speaker so you can hear." Taehyung waited for Namjoon to finish his proposal. "But, you have to promise not to tell Chaeyoung, or Jungkook for that matter, what we're planning."

Taehyung immediately replied "That depends. Does this plan involve risk for either of them?"

"If it fails, yes."

"What happens upon failure?" Taehyung asked hesitantly, sweeping his hair out of his eyes. Namjoon couldn't help but admire how protective Taehyung was of Chaeyoung.

"Possible heartbreak. But, at the rate we're going, that's already happening."

Taehyung chewed on his lip, and Namjoon regretted telling him about the plan. "Forget it-" he started.

"I'm in," said Taehyung, surprising Namjoon. He dialed Lisa's number, and passed the phone to Namjoon. He immediately put it on speaker.

"Tae?" came Lisa's voice from the phone. The background music of the band was considerably softer from her end of the line.

"No. It's Namjoon."

"Hey, what's up? Why are you calling?"

"Before I say anything, Taehyung is listening with me. Is that okay with you?"

Lisa paused on the other end for so long, Namjoon thought she had hung up. "Yeah, that's fine."

"So, about the plan..." Namjoon started. Lisa was quiet at the other end, listening to what he had to say. "It's not going well."

"So Jungkook's not willing to talk to Chaeyoung?"

"I don't think it's that. I'm sure he wants to talk to her. It's just that he doesn't know how to."

"So w