'Til We Meet Again | Taekook AU

Chapter 32

**

"Hey." Jungkook greeted the receptionist at the desk and gave her his best smile.

The girl smiled back, and Jungkook caught a glimpse of the name plate pinned to her blouse, it read – Jisoo.

"Yes? How may I help you?" She asked, in a pleasant voice.

"Uh...I wanted to know, if Kim Taehyung reached his apartment. We met a couple hours ago, and I was wondering if he got home or not. I didn't get any message from him."

"Oh-" there was a frown on Jisoo's face. "You say you're his friend?"

"Yes." Jungkook nodded. "I just wanted to check up on him. That's all."

"Mr. Kim returned a while ago." Jisoo said and looked down, at the open register in front of her.

"Oh that's great." Jungkook pretended to be relieved.

A moment passed and Jisoo looked up. "Do you need help with anything else?"

"Uh...-" Jungkook hadn't thought so far ahead. He simply wanted to ask for Taehyung to come downstairs, but wouldn't that seem suspicious?

Jisoo narrowed her eyes at him. "I have confirmed, Mr. Kim returned home safely. Is there anything else you wanted to inquire about?"

"Uh...actually, would you be able to let him know that I'm here to meet him?"

"Why?" Jisoo set down the pen she had in hand and stepped back, giving him her full attention. This was not good. Did she doubt him?

"You said you had his number, right? You can give him a call, once again. I'm sure Mr. Kim will pick up your call this time." Jisoo said.

He really was stupid, Jungkook thought. Why did he had to claim to have his number?

"Uh...I do-"

"Yes. Go ahead, call him." Jisoo folded her arms across her chest, a curious look on her face.

What was she thinking? Jungkook needed to act fast or else the girl was bound to call security after watching his pathetic acting.

Jungkook gave a brief smile and pulled out his phone from his jeans pocket. He dialed in Jimin's number and waited, a few minutes later it went to voicemail. What was he doing? Was Jimin already in the building? Jungkook wondered.

It didn't matter though, he could just pretend to talk to Taehyung.

"Ah...Taehyungie hyung! I just wanted to check up on you." Jungkook said into the phone, a bright smile on his face. He didn't know how he was going to Taehyung out of his apartment. So far, his plan had failed spectacularly. He could only hope Jimin would wait and bid his time, until the coast was clear. "Ah..yes. Thank you for meeting with me today, hyung."

He felt eyes on his back. Jisoo was watching him, probably waiting for a slip-up.

Jungkook was about to continue with his act, when the shrill ringtone blasted out of his phone speakers and he cringed. He didn't even dare to turn around and meet Jisoo's glare. Jungkook groaned and quickly picked up the call, getting upset at Jimin for the horrible timing.

Couldn't he had called a moment later? Jungkook was in middle of ending his fake call, and now it was all in ruins.

"Jimin-ssi? What is it?"

"Why do you sound so pissed?" Jimin asked. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. Just tell me, where are you?"

"I'm making my way to Taehyung's apartment as we speak."

"Wait!" Jungkook almost shouted.

There was a pause and then Jimin was speaking into the phone. "What is wrong with you? Yelling at me through the phone? Wasn't the plan to get inside the apartment?"

"Yes, but-"

Out of the corner of his eye, Jungkook watched Jisoo write something into the register, but he knew her ears were on him, listening into the conversation. "Listen to me. Don't do it?"

"Don't do what? You're aren't making any sense, Kookie." Jimin grumbled on the other side of the line.

"Jisoo?" A familiar voice called from up the stairs. "Why did you allow that guy to enter the building? You should have-"

Jungkook wanted to bang his head against the wall right about now. Why had the situation become like this? Why couldn't he have disappeared before-

"Jungkook? What are you doing here?"

Jungkook turned, slowly, as if being sluggish was going to get him off the hook. But of course, the receptionist had to rat him out as well.

"You know him, Taehyung-ah?" She asked. "He was trying to get in as well, pretending to have your number and making a fake call to you."

"Oh-" Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed. "Yes, I know he doesn't have my number. But why pretend to call me? Jungkook?"

"Uh-"

"What happened? Why are you here?" Taehyung asked. He was still standing on the stairs, with questions in his eyes.

"This is the second guy today, to meet you, Mr. Kim. I didn't know you were famous."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Of course, not. I met him a couple days ago."

"And the other guy?"

"Don't mentioned him." The calm look was replaced by anger, and Jungkook knew Seojoon would have to work hard to get back Taehyung's trust. Whatever he had done, had pissed off Taehyung, and it would be a long while before he softened up to Seojoon...or so Jungkook thought.

"Why are you here?" Taehyung asked again, and Jungkook racked his brains for an answer.

What had he decided on? What was his backup plan?

Hobi and Yoongi's face appeared before him, and he remembered. "Uh...I wanted to tell you about those two guys – Yoongi and Hoseok."

"Ah yes." Taehyung gave a nod and started descending the stairs, his robe swaying near his ankles and the slightly crumpled grey pajamas beneath it, as if he was in preparation to go to bed after talking with Jisoo. "I had wanted to ask about them as well. But, we haven't shared numbers yet."

"Yes, we haven't." Jungkook glanced at Jisoo, who shook her head.

"Well, whatever it is you want to discuss, do it here." She said.

"What why?"

"Because, I rarely let anyone enter my apartment." Taehyung answered him, and Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

So, this was how he hid the fact that a magical room was attached to his apartment walls. Jungkook was sure, Jisoo had no clue about Taehyung's past or his powers. Keeping the contact from outside world to the minimum, Taehyung had somehow managed to keep his room a secret.

"So, you want me to talk in front of her?" Jungkook asked. He knew Taehyung wouldn't allow, especially since the conversation involved magical beings.

And just as he expected, Taehyung shook his head. "No. We can talk outside." He said, and reached for the entrance.

"Let's go." Taehyung beckoned to Jungkook, and the youngster couldn't have been more happy.

He quickly sent Jimin a message. "He's out. It's safe now. You can go into his apartment."

Their plan was beginning to take shape, it was working, and Jungkook hoped it stayed that way.

**