Play With Fire

8: Hoseok's Promise (NEW)

CHAPTER 8
Hoseok's Promise

    Jin blinked at Hoseok warily while he took a few seconds to audition a couple of possible reactions. He decided to shoot for somewhere between innocence and bafflement. "Sorry, Hoseok, you've lost me there."

    He threw both hands up and widened his eyes in an attempt to lend some credibility to his response.

    Hoseok laughed softly and shook his head. "I've seen the way the guy follows you around. He's so smitten, he barely lets you out of his sight. I even saw you arrive together this morning for fuck's sake. But don't worry, I won't say anything."

    He tapped his nose and winked conspiratorially as Jin stared at him aghast.

    Oh, crap. He thinks I'm with Soobin.

    "No need to say anything else. I get it. It's none of my business. Just be careful, okay? If Mr. Kim finds out the guy he's paying big shit to keep him safe and secure doesn't have his mind completely on the job, he won't even draw a breath before he fires his ass. And where would that leave you, huh?" Hoseok smiled at Jin and shook his head slowly. "Yeah, I get it's exciting sneaking around, but if you both suddenly find yourselves on the sidewalk and not able to pay the bills, that's really gonna take the edge off of any love affair. Just saying, that's all."

    Jin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He promised he would not lie. "Look, Hoseok... It's... It's not what it looks like, really. You don't need to worry about me. I want you to know I really appreciate your discretion. I won't forget that. I would hate for the other guys to be gossiping about me."

    Hoseok laughed out loud and scrubbed his fingers over his face. "You're funny, Jin. You really are oblivious to it, aren't you?"

    Jin was genuinely baffled now. What? "Excuse me?"

    "Kai is torn somewhere between wanting to bask in your reflected glory and wanting to gouge your eyes out because of the way you upstage him at every turn, unintentionally though, I might add. He had you pegged as his main competitor as soon as he saw you. He was even speculating yesterday that you're some sort of plant for THV, tasked with reporting back on us all, not an intern at all. He reckoned your defunct security pass was just a ruse so that you could sneak away. Anything, absolutely anything, to make us eye you with suspicion. Crazy. Meanwhile, Sehun is like a sad little puppy." Hoseok put both hands on his head and relaxed back into his seat. "You know, I had to smile to myself tonight when he was telling me how you'd nicely give him the brush off. He's been so intent on gazing at you at every opportunity, he completely missed the other guy doing the same. Earlier on in the lobby, your guy sprung up on his feet and looked like he was ready to take Sehun down just because he got close enough to ask you out. It was just like he'd breached some exclusion zone around you, and Sehun didn't even notice. So fucking funny."

    Jin felt nauseous. He whispered, "Why are you telling me all this?"

    "I just think you should know, that's all. If it were me, I would want to know what people were saying about me. You're such an innocent, Jin, and that bothers me because you're not a player. You remind me of my dongsaeng. I wouldn't like to stand by and see you get chewed up and spat out by someone nastier and more worldly wise than you." He stopped, and his eyes drifted towards the ceiling. "That, and the fact that I've been up for more than sixteen hours and I've sunk a few beers. Yeah, could well be that too," he laughed and leaned over to pull Jin into a hug. He murmured against his head, "If only you were a straight guy, Jin, this would be a perfect moment."

    Jin pulled away, shaking his head in disbelief. He did not even need to look to see whose eyes were boring little holes into the side of his head from across the restaurant, but instinctively he looked in Taehyung's direction anyway.