Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 34 - Secret

JUNGKOOK

As I stood at the doorway of my gym, preparing to lock up for the night, I could not believe how drastically my life had changed. After my parents' break up a year and a half ago, it felt like my life was coming to an end. But now I could see that it was truly just beginning. Not only had my dream of owning my own fitness center finally come to fruition, but I also had the woman of my dreams by my side.

I hadn't realized it before Aria came into my life, but for as long as I could remember, I'd been merely existing. Even the goals I'd set for myself had been small in comparison to what I'd already accomplished. I'd assumed it would take years to get my business up and running, and I'd been so willing to settle for that reality.

Until I met Aria.

Being with a grown and sexy, savvy boss like Aria made me wanna step my game up. It was impossible to be with a woman of her caliber and stay the same. She was everything I never knew I needed in my life. She'd helped me grow and change in countless ways. Because of her, I was a better man, and thanks to her five plus years of experience as a thriving business owner herself, and her willingness to teach me everything she knew, I was now a successful entrepreneur.

Business was booming. I'd already hired eight employees over the past few months, and now I was seriously having to consider opening a new location within the next year, or sooner, to meet the growing demand. Although I'd been building a pretty solid client base as a personal trainer while I earned my degree, it was still mind blowing to have had over one hundred members join my gym within the first year.

Once I'd secured the door and set the alarm, I hopped on my bike and headed home to take a quick shower and change out of my work clothes. Of course, I could have showered and changed at work, but since I was hanging out with the guys tonight, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to drop in and see my lady, even if only for a few minutes. By the time I'd arrived at Yoongi's, where we'd all agreed to meet up the week before, it was almost half past seven. I was surprised to find only Tae and Namjoon playing games in his game room.

"What's up, guys?! Where's everyone?" Tae and I did our special handshake as Namjoon nodded his greeting from the other side of the room. "What time are we supposed to be meeting up with the rest of the guys?"

"Well, I spoke to Jimin earlier, and he told me he'd be here around eight." Tae explained, pausing briefly to unwrap a pink lollipop and plop down on the black leather sofa. "Yoon's downstairs finishing up some work in his studio. Jin is on his way from a property he was showing across town. And Hobi would've been here already, but his flight was delayed, so he's running a little late."

"Yeah, everyone should be here within an hour or so; just enough time for you two amateurs to take these ass whoopings I'm about to hand out," Namjoon quipped while racking the balls on the black baize of Yoongi's pool table. I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud at his ridiculous taunt.

"The only amateur here is you, old man. You get your ass whooped every time and you know it."

Namjoon loved talking shit as if that would somehow make him a better pool player. He was the worst of the seven of us since hitting balls with speed and accuracy wasn't quite his strong suit. But he never let his clumsiness or lack of skill stop him from having fun with it. I admired that about him.

"Oh, I got your old man."

"Aye... the two of you gonna keep bickering all night like kindergartners?" Tae interrupted, mumbling around his lollipop before popping it out of his mouth. "Or is someone gonna actually do something? Time to put up or shut up, so I can play the winner."