Maybe in Another Life

I'm between your past and future now

"Want to go to a party tonight?" Mingyu asked.

"Who's party?"

"Just a party. No real reason. Boss likes to close the bar every once and a while and hold something private for the family and friends."

Even though I had become somewhat of a regular at Ruby's there were still some of Mingyu's hyungs that I had never met. Like his boss. When Vernon (whom I also rarely saw or spoke to) and Jeonghan visited Yoongi, the term "Boss" felt ominous and a little scary. In context, knowing that he was just the owner of a bar Yoongi used to frequent made him less intimidating. But there was still a part of me that felt like this group of people were a family and probably didn't welcome newcomers much at all.

"Is it okay for me to crash?" I questioned, shyly.

"Of course! Why wouldn't it be? Everyone at Ruby knows about you."

"They do?"

"Well of course. I mean, when I'm not with them I'm usually with you."

"And he never shuts up about you either." Jihoon chimed. Mingyu balled up a napkin and threw it at him.

It made me feel good that Mingyu liked me as much as I liked him. Sometimes I felt like he seemed to stumble upon me when I needed a friend, and I just kind of inserted myself into his life.

"You should come, Kook," Jihoon said, taking a seat in the booth with us. He must have been off his shift for the day. I looked to the bar to see another bartender, Lee Chan, making drinks and talking to patrons.

"I mean, if it's cool with your boss, then, sure!"

"Okay cool, and we'll come get you around 9."

"I can drive myself. Besides, Jihoon, are you okay with him just volunteering you?"

"It's fine. I don't drink, so I really don't mind. It can get a little crazy so I'd rather pick you up and drop you off than risk anything happening to you."

I mulled it over for a few minutes before agreeing. It'd make it easier to leave that late in the night without having to give Yoongi any type of explanation. If he happened to be up late, he'd see our shared car parked in the front and assume I was home. If he even noticed at all.

As expected, Yoongi retired to his quarters shortly after dinner. I felt like I did when Tae and I were kids, sneaking in and out of each other's houses late at night. It was stupid to feel that way, but just like it had with Tae, there was an air of excitement about sneaking around with Mingyu.

The party was at Ruby's but in an area of the bar that I had never known existed. Going into the kitchen for the first time, Mingyu walked us downstairs to the basement to what looked like a small nightclub. The lights were a little dimmer, the music a little louder, and the vibe a little more sensual than it was upstairs.

The place wasn't packed, but it sure was far from a small get-together. I saw many familiar faces, and just as many new ones. Rather than Jihoon and Chan tending bar, there were 3 gorgeous women in their place. In fact, there were more women around than I had ever seen at one time, probably ever in my life.

"Is this some sort of..." I trail off, unsure of exactly what I'm trying to ask.

"What?"

I lean in and whisper to him, "Like a... sex...thing?"

It felt like the whole room stopped at the sound of Mingyu's bellowing laughter.

"A sex thing? What is a 'sex thing'?"

We take a seat at an open table and I try to disappear into the wall.

"A sex thing! Jungkook! Sometimes I forget how young you are."