[ messages context at the beginning ]
right : sender
left : receiver / the owner of the device
note / disclaimer
pictures in the chats used serve as visuals and entertainment.
Source : Google
credits to the owners
phrase
*whys and wherefores – for what purpose(s) or reason(s)
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Jimin
Hoseok hyung, you need
to go home now.
i'm busy
Cancel whatever you do right now.
i can't
You can! You're Bejiwoo's boss!
Read today, 10:45 a.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Jimin
•
seen today, 11:20 a.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Jimin
Doesn't that wink look
threatening to you?
not at all
We're at your house.
what you two doing there?
seen today, 11:50 a.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Jimin
You're doomed!
seen today, 12:12 p.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Jimin
Hoseok hyung TT don't leave me
on read... I'm trying to save you.
why you sound like I gonna
get murdered?
seen today, 12:30 p.m.
now you're the one leaving
me on read
seen today, 12:35 p.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Seokjin hyung
•
shopping?
• hahaha
• ye
have fun
i can't believe that a donkey's
smarter than you
seen today, 1:25 p.m.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
Seokjin hyung
•
• this hoodie looks good on
me, don't u think?
it is, it does
•
• you look handsome in it
• better than anyone else, better
than me
i don't intend to wear this tho
unless u want to give it to me
wym?
u can't even recognize ur
own clothes. stupid
???
•
• i learned that some things are
meant to be in trash bags
hyung
ye, boy
aren't those mine?
• lmao
•
• u have an hour
• [ location ]
•
• come
• or u naked
• :D
seen today, 1:45 p.m.
J.hs1802 offline
**********
Hoseok raced down the road, cutting lanes and escaping a few cars. Deafening honks and offensive shouts from other drivers, he ignored and mentally apologized for the near danger he had put them in.
Even if he had the money to buy new clothes, Seokjin was persistent. It would be his money that was going to be burnt out next. He didn't want to go around naked.
His car swerved, parking behind a familiar black car. Screech on the narrow road echoed at the field as the car's brake pedal was pushed.
He spotted Seokjin in his lavender hoodie with arms crossed, posture stood confident and stern. The older man's eyes aimed sharply at him.
Beside Seokjin was a young woman, standing humbly. Hair tied in a high bun. Her upper wear was a maroon knitted sweater. At the end of it showed a hint that there was a white chiffon blouse inside. A pair of black jeggings as her pants and black high heel boots as her footwear.
When Hoseok saw her style, he was impressed. He assumed Seokjin must have instructed her to come with a fashion that suited autumn. But that did not convince him to accept Lee Jiah as his assistant.
The soft scratch noise coming from Seokjin distracted him and, instantly, his eyes saw a kindled matchstick in his hand.
At once, he pulled the lever and pushed the door open. Due to the strong force, the door bounced on his calf. His face contorted and yelped in pain. Limping to Seokjin and Jiah, he yelled, "no!"
Seokjin raised an eyebrow. He raised his chin. He blew the burning matchstick and removed it from his grip with a flick. With a mocking tone, he asked, "why not?"
"Just no!"
Stubborn, Seokjin asked again, "oh, why not?"
Hoseok let out an exasperated sigh and furiously questioned, "how did you enter my room? I locked the door!"
Cocky, as he was reading what was written on the small box, the oldest answered, "your mother unlocked it for me."
Hoseok made a long whine and whimpered. "Do you have to do this? Out of all threats, why burning my clothes is you think of?"
Seokjin said, "hm, seems to me spatula doesn't work on you anymore." He raised his head and stared at the young boss. "You give me no choice."
"But why my clothes? This is unfair!"
Seokjin sing-song, "I don't care. I don't care."
Hoseok shouted, "then you want me to walk around naked?"
The young man's shout chimed at the area and it made Jiah jump.
Seokjin scratched the cup of his ears with a distasteful look. Still keeping his cool, he said, "I don't care. Once your clothes turn into ashes, Jiah can hold banana leaves for you."
Desperate, Hoseok threw a tantrum, "hyuu-uu-uung!" He sat on the ground with both of his legs laid flat and wide open.
Jiah carefully interfered, "Mister Seokjin."
"Yes?"
"We don't have banana trees around here."
"I can give you a newspaper."
Jiah muttered, "ah, yeah."
The idea was getting more ridiculous. Hoseok exclaimed, "Seokjin hyu-ung!"
Seokjin stayed quiet for a moment, staring at his boss like a strict parent. "I can stop," he uttered before setting his hands down. "But on one condition."
"Oh, come on!"
Pushing the box with his thumb fast, he pulled out a matchstick as he said, "alright, I'm burning 'em!"
"No, no, no!" Hoseok shouted and then, glared at the older man. His lips frowned. "Fine! What's the condition?"
"Accept Lee Jiah as your assistant."
Hoseok whined. "Not this."
Threatened to burn the clothes again, Seokjin said, "alright!"
Hoseok quickly got up to kneel as he stammered, "no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay, okay!"
Seokjin and Jiah looked at him.
Seokjin let out a "hm?"
"I said, okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay!"
Out of satisfaction, Seokjin shouted, "Okay?"
"Yes, okay!"
"Tell us, Jiah is hired as your P.A."
Hoseok made a short glance at Jiah before running his gaze somewhere. Softly, he spoke, "Jiah is hired as my P.A."
"I can't hear you!"
"Jiah is hired as my P.A!"
Seokjin beamed. "You sure, boy?"
Hoseok's lips still frowned, holding back the urge to roll his eyes. He said, "yeah."
Seokjin clapped. "Lee Jiah!" He turned to face the young woman beside him. "Congratulations!"
Hoseok disliked her. After this incident, he was sure everything between both them was going to be awkward. The occurrence – where the boss got threatened to accept a new worker – was probably new to her.
He heard Seokjin announce, "Let's go to the store, kids! Jimin, get the bag in."
Seokjin was about to move when Jiah stopped him. "Mister Seokjin."
Seokjin turned around with eyebrows raised. "Yes?"
"Don't you think you're being too harsh on him?"
Seokjin beamed as he released deep chuckles. "For someone like him, harshness is the final solution."
"But –"
Seokjin lifted an index finger, giving her a warning look. "Sh! Let's talk about this later, alright?"
She seemed to have gotten intimidated by one gesture. She nodded her head, earning another smile from the older man before he left her alone in the area.
As Jimin passed by her to get the black plastic bag, Jiah approached him and held out her hand. Hoseok's eyebrows frowned. He made a glimpse at the small, slender hand and then, looked up at her. Ignoring her, he got up by himself and went to his car with big steps.
He would never find himself liking her. He swore.
**********
Hoseok slammed his car after getting inside.
Setting her hand down, she released a sigh. A bitter smile spread across her lips as she made her way to Seokjin's car's back seat.
After Jimin sent the big plastic bag to Hoseok's car's trunk, he went to Seokjin's car's driver seat and put on his seatbelt. Empty, her mind was, yet she could predict an unknown journey was about to start.
As if her mind was heard, Seokjin said, "you don't have to worry if he treats you badly–" Smiling, he looked at her through the rearview mirror "–you have me."
Jiah returned the smile.
Once they reached the boutique, both drivers parked their cars and hopped off. Jiah tried to catch a glimpse of her boss' expression. However, she failed as the sides of his face were hidden by his hoodie. As of that moment, she knew Seokjin was her comfort zone.
A question popped up in her mind. If Seokjin wasn't around, who was she going to refer to? That – she concluded – she would first observe how the environment in the boutique was going to treat her.
Her feet continued to carry her to the shop. Once she stepped on the opened door that Jimin held for her, a loud "surprise!" welcomed her.
Wheein, widely grinned Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jisoo who just threw confetti at her warmed her heart. Unlike what happened prior to that, the new surrounding was warmly welcoming.
Welcome greets were flooded from everyone, except Yoongi who was standing there, crossing his arms with a light smile on his face. He nodded his head. That was his sign of welcoming, Jiah assumed. Her smile gradually fell when her boss was nowhere to be found.
All of a sudden, a loud clap, signing for attention echoed through the shop. All quieted down and turned themselves to Yoongi who shoved his hands into the jeans pockets. "Welcome, Miss Jiah," he said.
She bowed to him with a light smile and muttered a "thank you."
"I'm sorry Hoseok doesn't welcome you well." The man showed her a bitter smile. "We looked for his assistant without asking him."
That explained why Hoseok rebelled against Seokjin earlier.
There was silence as Yoongi stared at the girl, looking tired. Remembering their first meeting, it seemed that it was his usual posture. "I believe in you," Yoongi said.
The attention and quietness they gave to Min Yoongi seemed to be a rare occurrence.
"There are a few things you need to remember," Yoongi added, releasing a soft breath as his lazy stare at her didn't change. Lazy, yet sharp. "To be a personal assistant to Jung Hoseok isn't only about monitoring his email and helping him respond, organizing, taking notes, reminding him about the organizations and such. To be his assistant, you need the eligibility to help with his anxiety."
Jiah's mind was alarmed at the last sentence.
"But that's not all," he added.
"Min Yoongi chose you because you took a nursing major, and we assumed you took an internship," Seokjin told.
Jiah carefully commented, "it wasn't long. I was part of the emergency room team for a short time before I got transferred to the pediatric ward due to a request."
Yoongi nodded his head. "I know you can help Hoseok. Yet, I know it won't be easy. So, don't be afraid to ask us if you need help."
His statement had fueled a fire in her determination. For once, she was proud of the major that she did not choose to take.
Yoongi approached her step by step. The thick, slow clap from his boots and the floor resonated in the boutique. Once he stood in front of her, she had to look up to match his eyes' level. His physique was bigger and slightly taller than hers.
The tension in the area became tighter.
"But! Don't ask or say anything about his sister, our past boss. At him or any one of us. A taboo–" Yoongi tilted his head a little to the side "–that's an advance warning for you."
Yoongi seemed to know she had been observing her boss' office on the day she was supposed to get interviewed. The tension lessened after he released a loud sigh. He said, "I don't know what Seokjin did to Hoseok that he's sulking like that."
Jiah wondered what Hoseok did and how bad was his sulking to the point Yoongi noticed it.
Jimin was quick to answer. "He threatened to burn Hoseok's hoodies and ugly pants." The curly-haired man turned to look at him. "That's what Seokjin hyung said about his pants. Not me."
"I know. Seokjin hyung, that's harsh."
Seokjin mockingly hummed and said, "he needs to understand the whys and wherefores* we're looking for him an assistant."
"By burning his clothes? Are you serious?"
"Do I sound like I'm joking?"
Yoongi left the question unanswered.
There they go. The amount of responsibility that this job had thrown at her had weighed her shoulders. She did not choose this. But she believed the journey as Hoseok's assistant was going to be a good experience.
"We bought some pizzas to share." Wheein took a box of mayonnaise tuna pizza from the coffee table. As she opened the box, she extravagantly sang, "extra cheese!"
Taehyung's arm crossed Wheein's shoulder to grab a piece, but his hand got slapped. A glare shot at him. The young woman hissed, "Miss Jiah first!"
Taehyung pulled back with a pout.
After shooting daggers at Taehyung, Wheein quickly changed her expression to a cheerful one for Jiah and encouraged her to take as many as she wanted.
Jiah took a piece. She also let others take some after witnessing them gulping and slurping their saliva. They introduced themselves during the meal, and after that, they had a conversation regarding themselves.
She was still thinking. The taste of the welcome from the Bejiwoo staff was bliss, and the taste of the pizza was sweet, but the taste of the journey she was going to walk on?
Just a few moments ago she asked herself who should she refer to if something questionable happened to her boss. It seemed that she needed to figure out everything by herself.
**********
When Hoseok reached home, he went to his room immediately to wash up, passing by his mother who was eating melons while watching television.
He turned the doorknob and the mess he saw in his room had him vexed!
His breath stuttered eyes trembled as he brought his feet slowly entered the room.
"Seokjin hyung!!"
Pigeons outside the house flapped their wings in fear to leave.