The best things come in small packages

Is he good enough?

"I'm going to visit the restaurant later,I want to see that it's maintaining its quality."
"Kook you know Jin would never let it be second best,"
"Hobi I know but...., you know I like to keep an eye on my revenue..., I'll just check that it's to everyone's liking, plus I get to eat Jins food and listen to some music."
"You going on your own or with a partner?"
"On my own.., unless you want to come?"
"Sure, I'm game I love Jins food."
"Book the table for eight, I'll pick you up."
"Great,I'll do it now.."
Jungkook nodded then turned back to his laptop skimming through emails and replying to those that needed.
He left work at six and drive home, walking into his immaculate home and going to shower and change. He lay on his bed for fifteen minutes flicking through his phone .
There were a couple of messages from women asking to meet up, he frowned,didn't they realise if he didn't contact them he wasn't that interested? He sighed then got up checked his appearance and drive to Hobi's apartment.
Jimin was out of breath and limping when he got to the restaurant. Namjoon was overseeing the tables and looked out of the window to see Jimin limp by going to the staff entrance.
He walked through the swing doors into the kitchen.
"Jin he's here make him eat something," he whispered to his boyfriend.
"Ah Jimin, I was getting worried your usually here by now."
"I'm sorry Jin, I hurt my ankle it took me longer to get here."
"Sit down over there let me get you something to eat."
"I'm fine,can I have some water though?"
"Look Jimin staff have food here your staff and I expect you haven't eaten."
Jimin blushed, he didn't want to feel like a charity case, the other staff got fed because they worked long shifts, he only did four hours here, but Jin was right he hadn't eaten which is why he had passed out at his other job and twisted his ankle.
"Your staff are full time workers I'm not and I um ate before I came here," he lied.
"How did you hurt your ankle, is it wrapped up?"
"I um did it at my office job, I was trying to reach some files and it turned, I didn't think it was that bad til I walked here,I'll go change in the bathroom." He crossed his fingers hoping they would believe the lie, he wasn't good at lying and it was sort of true he was reaching for some files but suddenly fainted, his boss more annoyed that the files had been pulled to the floor than the fact his employee was passed out. Jimin had groggily been helped up by another employee and then apologised to his boss who told him he had to stay til the files were sorted, which is why Jimin was later than normal.
Jimin went to a locker pulling out one of the clean shirts he always left there,he sang three nights a week and needed to be well dressed for this exclusive restaurant, so luckily the few good shirts from his past were good quality and he only used them here. Going into the staff male bathroom he took his top off washing up and spraying deodorant then a small squirt of his favourite cologne. He sighed looking at the near empty bottle, not much left and he would never be able to replace it.
His foot was throbbing he slipped his shoe off just as Namjoon walked into the bathroom.
"I knew it,Jesus Jimin it's so swollen you shouldn't be walking on it, now tell the truth I know you were lying out there what happened?"
Jimin liked Namjoon a lot, he'd been so lucky to get this job it paid well and meant he could pay off his parents debts by limiting his spending and giving more money over, he lived in a one room tint place because it was cheap, so what if he missed the odd meal here and there,didn't lots of people?
Namjoon was staring at him, he knew all about Jimins past and worried for him. He wasn't like a lot of spoilt rich kids he was quiet and hard working and eager to pay back the money owed. He obviously didn't take great care of himself as over the months he'd been here both Jin and he could see him get thinner and paler, but however much they tried to help he just smiled and carried in by himself.
Jimin knew he couldn't lie to Namjoon so told him the truth.
"That old bastard made you work? Why didn't he take you to hospital?"
"Oh no I'm glad he didn't I don't want that expense!"
"Damn it Jimin your health is more important! Right your going to sit in the kitchen and eat something or your not working!"
"But.."
"No buts, come on that should help a bit but really your foot should be up."
He walked slowly back to the kitchen with Jimin and nodded at Jin who swiftly brought a plate of food over and sat Jimin on a stool telling him to eat.
Jimn had taken three mouthfuls when the kitchen doors swung open and two handsome men walked in.
"Jungkook...,Hobi ,you eating here tonight?"
"We are Jin,Joonie I thought you'd be out front ?"
"I have been just checking back here,"
"Mmm,hmmm, er who's this and why's he eating in the kitchen?"
Jimn looked up quickly and quickly got off his stool, hissing in pain as his foot touched the floor. He'd heard the name Jungkook and realised here was the main boss, of course Jimin shouldn't be sitting here basically eating his food.
"I'm..,I'm nobody, I'll get to work thanks Namjoon...,Jin," he limped off through the doors as quickly as he could.
"Damn it Kook, did you have to sound so.....bossy?" Namjoon asked his long time friend.
"What did I do? Who is he anyway?"
"Look all he got was a few mouthfuls after we finally got him to eat," Jin said sadly.
"Just call him back he can finish....!"
"He won't, he will not eat here again," Namjoon said forlornly.
""Er hello? Someone tell me what's going on?" Jungkook said turning his head from one to the other.
Jin sighed ," that was Jimin he works four nights a week here singing, he won't eat because he says he's not full time, Joonie and I are worried about him he's lost weight,"
"So why doesn't he eat at home if he only works four nights?"
"Because this is his second job, he works for an inconsiderate boss during the day and he's not been eating because...., we'll he just hasn't." Jin said not wanting to spill Jimins secrets.
"Hmmm, there is a staff room he could have eaten there....?"
"It's taken us months for him to accept any food so we sat him here so he would eat especially after today."
Jin looked at his boyfriend ," what happened to him?"
"He fainted ..."
"I knew it was more than he said!"
"Go and sit down kook, I'll bring the menu,"
Jungkook went back through the doors with Hobi , he was shown to a table and given the menu. He and Hobi ordered and then the wine waiter came over with some wine he kept here purely for himself.
He looked around pleased to see the place busy then looked to the side where a piano stood, the pianist was playing soft music. A small figure was sorting some sheet music which he handed to the pianist once he stopped playing. Jungkook saw it was the male from the kitchen, he picked up a microphone and nodded to the pianist who played a ballad.
The voice that came from the male stopped Jungkook from drinking his wine. His voice was perfectly suited to the haunting music.
Jungkook found himself staring properly at the male, noticing the slim body the dark hair and pale skin. He was quite mesmerising .
"Gosh, he sings well and looks like a cutie," Hobi said.
Their food arrived,Namjoon overseeing they had everything they wanted.
One song rolled into another,Jimin sang his heart out, his foot aches from standing and he suddenly felt dizzy.
No not now not here he thought suddenly holding onto the piano,doing his best to keep upright.
Jungkook could see Jimin sway slightly he called Namjoon over.
"Set a place here and bring him over," he said nodding towards Jimin.
Namjoon smiled and waited for the song to end going to Jimin and gesturing at Jungkooks table. Jungkook could see the worried look on the small boys face as he limped over.
"You wanted to see me sir?"
"Sit down,eat with us while we talk."
"Oh I can't....." Jimin started
"As your boss I say you can,,now tell me you like singing here?"
"Y-yes I do...."
A plate of food appeared in front of Jimin and there was Namjoon patting his back," eat up Jimin the boss says so...."
Jimin put a small amount of food in his mouth trying hard not to groan in pleasure.
"You have a lovely voice," Hobi said.
"T-thank you..."
Jimin wondered why he was here at this table and was about to ask when a new group of people sat at the table next to them.
"Jimin? Park Jimin... oh my god is it you."
Jimin looked up and his heart dropped. Please god not her, Lisa the school bitch he'd always ignored.
"Well,well..., I thought you were down and out but here you are living it up, are you just like your parents..., have you scammed these two men out of money like your parents did?"
Jimin went red quickly looking down.
"I-I work here Lisa...,t-this is nothing else..., I er, I will get back to work ...," he nodded to Jungkook and stood up leaving the plate of food there and limping to the piano.Namjoon had placed a stool there and he climbed on and started singing.
"Well look at that what a come down,Park Jimin is a lounge singer!!" Lisa gave a shriek.
Jungkook frowned, just who was this boy and why did he feel....protective of him?
"I can't wait to let the gang know that Park Jimin is working here..." the obnoxious girl trilled out to her friends.
"She seems like a bitch!" Hobi muttered.
"But what if she's right what if he tries to hit on my clientele?"
"I think he's scared of his own shadow ..,hardly likely to hit on anyone."
The girl Lisa clicked her fingers at Namjoon.
"You there, can't you get anyone better to sing than him?"
Namjoon kept a smile on his face but was seething.
"I'm sorry is there something wrong?"
"I'm surprised you let him here it is supposed to be an upper class restaurant you know and I personally know the owner, I would like to give you a chance to get rid of him before I report it I'm sure he's not aware of the garbage your employing!"
Lisa was so loud she was attracting attention and Jimin couldn't help but hear every word. His face flamed and he could see the look on Jungkooks face, he had to leave before this got worse.
He slipped from the stool apologising to the pianist and disappeared through the kitchen doors sneaking to the locker room and retrieving all his belongings .
A member of staff entered Rosa.
"Hey Jimin what's all the commotion out there?"
"R-Rosa can you give my locker key to Namjoon, t-tell him I'm sorry for causing this and I won't turn up again.."
"Jimin no wait.."
Jimin slipped out the back door carrying his things and limping hurriedly away,unaware of what was occurring inside the restaurant.
"Excuse me er Lisa was it?" Jungkook stood next to the bitchy woman.
"Oh....yes handsome?"
"Your causing a lot of drama here is it necessary?"
"Excuse me? Do you know who I am? I'm a friend of the owner," she lied.
"Now that's not true is it?I think you should leave,"
"I beg your pardon, your sticking up for that pathetic Jimin because he tried to befriend you, let me tell you I........"
"Namjoon see her and her friends out she is banned from here..."
Jungkook returned to his seat, while a smirking Namjoon ushered the woman to the door.
"What do you think your doing, don't listen to him who is he!" She screamed
"That ma'am is the owner you said you knew so please leave quietly and don't return."
He shut the door on the gaping woman and her friends turning back to walk to Jungkooks table.
"Well she was a nasty piece of work thanks Kook I was losing my cool."
"You can tell Jimin to come out of hiding and carry on."
"Yes I'll, Rosa where did Jimin go?"
"I-I'm sorry sir, he left..., he said he was sorry for the trouble he caused and asked me to give you his locker key."
"Thank you Rosa you can go....Damn it, I know he needs this...." Namjoon said worriedly.
Jungkook stood up," his address?"
"W-what?"
"I'm sure he signed a contract to work?"
"Well yes but...."
"Well I'll just go remind him, Hobi take a taxi will you,the address Joonie...."