Nascent

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jin leads you to his car, engaging in small talk about the company's anniversary. He hints at having many surprises prepared, but when you tease if it's just for you, he quickly adds, "And everyone else," masking the fact that there might be something special just for you.

As you reach the destination, you can't help but feel a sense of familiarity. The place turns out to be Taehyung's restaurant, and you exclaim, "OMG, I love this place!" Jin, wanting to surprise you, seems pleased. "Really? I wanted to surprise you with it," he confesses, attempting to conceal any extra surprises he might have planned for you. You grin, "Yes, Lily's boyfriend owns it."

Jin, taken aback, asks, "Lily has a boyfriend?" You nod, and Jin responds, "Wow, the more you know. Maybe that'll get you in the mood to find one yourself," teasingly. You laugh softly, replying, "If it's meant to be, it'll find my way," maintaining an air of mystery about your own romantic endeavours.

Jin holds the door open for you as you arrive at the restaurant. The familiar place, now filled with the soft glow of dim lights, reflects the night sky through the windows. The ambience is warm, and the air is filled with the pleasant hum of conversations, laughter, the subtle clinking of cutlery and the live band playing. The staff and some coworkers are present, creating a lively atmosphere under the restaurant's familiar setting.

You find your way to a beautifully set table, adorned with flowers and candles. The evening holds the promise of delightful surprises, both for the celebration of the company's anniversary and the subtle complexities of relationships that linger beneath the surface. As you settle into the red leather seat Jin pulled for you, you can't help but wonder what other surprises await throughout the night.

As you both settled into your seats, you jokingly remarked, "I'm guessing the higher-ups don't eat with the rest of the staff?" Jin chuckled, playing along, "Well, this will only give them motivation to climb up this ladder and sit in your seat." You teased further, "Oh, you'd much rather have someone else sit in front of you," to which he smoothly replied, "Only when you're sitting next to me," with a flirtatious tone. Leaning back, he added, "I'm being a great boss, giving my employees ambition. That's how capitalism still functions," stating it matter-of-factually.

You rolled your eyes playfully, saying, "Whatever you say, boss." The banter continued as you both placed your orders. You decided on a steak, and Jin, sharing the same vision, agreed to order one as well. While waiting for the food, he steered the conversation towards Jimin, noting, "So Jimin was at your place. Looks like you two got close."

You hesitated for a moment, sensing a subtle tension. "Yeah, we hang out every now and then. I mean, we live next to each other," you replied cautiously. Jin, with a faint frown, acknowledged the newfound friendship, stating, "Well, now you have another friend." There was a hint of disapproval in his tone, creating an undercurrent of tension that lingered as the conversation shifted to other topics. The atmosphere in Taehyung's restaurant became more complex, with unspoken sentiments adding a layer of unease to the night.

Taehyung, wearing some oversized washed-down black jeans and a beige shirt, arrived at the restaurant to check up on it. The manager informed him that the entire place had been rented out for a company's anniversary celebration. As Taehyung glanced around, he noticed Y/N sitting in front of a man he didn't recognise. Intrigued, he wondered if that was really Y/N. Upon getting a better glimpse, even from a distance, he confirmed it was indeed her.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Taehyung decided to call Jimin. After a ring or two, Jimin answered, "Hey, Tae." Without even a greeting, Taehyung quickly blurted out, "Yo, Y/N is here at the restaurant with some man." Jimin, connecting the dots, responded, "Oh, so that's where the date is." Confused, Taehyung questioned, "Date? She's on a date?" Jimin, nonchalant, remarked, "Well, she doesn't think it's a date, but today is the anniversary of the company she works at." Taehyung was taken aback, "Ohhh, so who is that man?"