On the House

Chapter Four

The next day, Yoongi stood in front of the restaurant where he was meeting Namjoon, seriously considering not entering. He was so concerned that Namjoon hated his music that he was second-guessing himself in more ways than one.

Finally, he took in a deep breath and pulled the door open. His eyes immediately found Namjoon, waiting with a pensive look on his face. Yoongi hesitantly approached him.

"Hey," he managed.

Namjoon jumped slightly. "Oh, hey," he said, his expression never changing.

Yoongi nervously took a seat across from Namjoon. "So..."

"So."

Yoongi decided to get right to the point. "Look, I know my music isn't for everyone. I'll understand if you didn't like it. I won't be offended, and – "

"What are you talking about?" Namjoon interrupted.

Yoongi looked at him sheepishly. "You don't have to let me down easy. Just say it."

Namjoon's lips parted slightly as his eyebrows furrowed. "Yoongi," he said quietly. "You're brilliant."

Yoongi blinked. "What?"

"That song," Namjoon said. "Your rapping. Your flow. The beat. The production. You...you're brilliant."

Yoongi stared at Namjoon. "You can't be serious."

"But I am," Namjoon insisted. "And I played it for some of my higher ups; the producers I work with and really look up to. They want to meet you."

Yoongi took in a deep breath. "Really?"

Namjoon nodded. "Really. And they - and I - want to hear more. Can you send me more?"

"Well, yeah. Of course. But what do you want to hear? I have more rapping similar to the song I sent you. But I also have some that I sing on, too – "

"You sing?"

"Um, yeah, sometimes."

"Yoongi," Namjoon said somewhat breathlessly. "Send me everything you've got."

Yoongi's breath hitched. "Everything?"

Namjoon nodded. "Everything."

"I..." Yoongi paused. "That would be a lot. I've been fiddling around with music for a long time."

"'Fiddling around'?" Namjoon said incredulously. "You know what you're doing, Yoongi. Give yourself some credit."

"I – " Yoongi didn't know what else to say. So, he merely stopped and sat there, unsure of himself.

"Send me more of your rapping," Namjoon said. "Send me some of your singing. Send everything."

Yoongi blinked. "Y-You really want all that?"

"Yes," Namjoon said earnestly. "I think you're a great talent, Yoongi. Prove me right."

"Um," Yoongi stuttered, still unsure. "Okay."

Yoongi and Namjoon simply stared at each other for a few long moments before Namjoon finally broke the silence.

"So, tell me about yourself. I meant it when I said I'd like to get to know you better."

Yoongi sucked in a breath. "Um, well, I'm 23 and from Daegu. I came to Seoul for university and just ended up staying here afterward. W-What about you?"

Namjoon smiled. "I'm 22, from Ilsan. I attended university there, but came to Seoul for a change of pace. I got offered a job at the music company I now work for, and I couldn't pass it up."