On the House

Chapter Nineteen

It was Friday night, and Yoongi was headed to the bar to meet Namjoon. They'd both promised each other they wouldn't get drunk this time. They were simply going to enjoy a few drinks and chat.

Namjoon had offered to pick Yoongi up, but Yoongi didn't want him to go out of his way. So, he made his way onto a bus and patiently waited for it to make its way to the bar.

Namjoon had beat him there, and Yoongi found him quickly. "Hey," he said, joining Namjoon at the table. He looked down and noticed a glass sitting in front of the empty chair he was about to sit in.

"I went ahead and ordered you one," Namjoon said. "Whiskey, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Yoongi said. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that."

"I know," Namjoon replied.

Yoongi smiled as he sat and took a long sip of his drink. "So," he said. "Tell me something about you currently that has nothing to do with work."

Namjoon glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Like what?"

"I dunno," Yoongi shrugged. "But we've been talking about work every day the past couple of weeks. And we'll continue to every weekday. So let's talk about something else now."

Namjoon chuckled. "Well, I don't really know what to say, I guess. Tell me something about you."

"I started a new drama," Yoongi said.

"You watch dramas?"

"Doesn't everyone?"

"I mean, I don't really..."

"You don't really, or you don't?"

"I mean, I've watched them before."

Yoongi nodded. "Well, the one I've been watching lately has become quite eventful, and I'm really liking it."

Namjoon smiled. "That's great," he said.

"So, what about you?" Yoongi asked again.

"Um, well, I guess I wrote a new song the other day."

"For work?"

Namjoon shook his head. "No, just for me."

"That's awesome!" Yoongi said. "Have you recorded it?"

"Not yet," Namjoon said. "But I plan to soon."

"Exciting!"

Namjoon shrugged. "Sure."

"Anything else?"

Namjoon thought it over. "My dad's coming into town next month."

"Yeah?" Yoongi said. "What for?"

"Just to visit. I haven't been home in ages. He just wants to see me."

Yoongi sighed. "I wish my parents would visit here. But they're not really into 'the big city' scene," he said with a chuckle. "I guess I should probably go visit them soon, then."

"That'd be nice."

Silence fell over the two for a few moments, but Yoongi quickly continued the conversation. He didn't want it to get awkward.

"So, got anything going on in your dating life?" he asked.

Namjoon scoffed into his drink. "Yeah, no," he said, somewhat bitterly. "I wish."

Yoongi nodded. "Same here. I haven't been on a date in...gosh, it's been more than a year, I guess."

"Me, too," Namjoon said. "Not for a lack of trying, though. But you saw what my last efforts got me."

"You know, I know that was a really low night for you, but I'm kinda glad it happened," Yoongi admitted. "Otherwise, we'd have never met."

Namjoon laughed. "I guess you're right," he agreed. "Maybe things did work out for the best in the end."

Yoongi grinned. "I think so."

Namjoon stared at Yoongi just as he looked away toward the bar. Yoongi was just observing his surroundings, but Namjoon was observing him. "Hey, Yoon," he said suddenly.

Yoongi looked back up at him. "Yeah?"

"Do you..." Namjoon paused and Yoongi raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

Namjoon considered his next words carefully as Yoongi watched him, waiting patiently.

"Nevermind," Namjoon muttered.

Yoongi's eyebrows rose. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Namjoon said. "I just...forgot what I was gonna say."

"Oh," Yoongi said. "Okay."

After a few long moments, Namjoon took a deep breath. "Would you ever consider dating somebody at work?"

"Funny you should mention that," Yoongi said. "I hadn't really ever thought much about it, but then Hobi told me office romances weren't a good idea."

"Hobi?"

"Yeah, he warned me against dating people at work."

Namjoon's brow furrowed. "But Hobi has been..."

"Hmm?"

Namjoon shook his head, still confused. "Why did he say they're a bad thing?"

"I actually wanted to ask you about that. He was talking about how we work closely with artists and idols, and we shouldn't get distracted by them. He said if I did, I might end up like someone else in our company."

Namjoon's eyebrows shot up. "Like who?"

"I don't know. He didn't say. But he made it sound like someone had had a bad experience, and he didn't want that for me. I asked him to elaborate, but he wouldn't."

Namjoon stared at him. "Why did you want to ask me about it?"

Yoongi shrugged. "I thought you might know who or what he was talking about."

Namjoon was quiet and Yoongi watched him closely.

"So, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you know what he's talking about?"

Namjoon's eyes darkened briefly. "No," he finally said. "I have no idea."

"Well," Yoongi said. "I guess I'll never know, then." He chuckled slightly. "It's not like I ever thought I'd actually date an idol or something, though. That just seems way too out there."

Namjoon nodded, but said nothing further. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable and, honestly, angry. Angry at Hoseok, who'd done nothing but rally for Namjoon and Yoongi to date. Why would he suddenly tell Yoongi not to date anyone at work if he really wanted him to date Namjoon? Now Yoongi was confused and asking questions, and Namjoon wasn't sure what to do.

He made a mental note to call Hoseok as soon as he and Yoongi parted ways that night.

"Is everything okay, Joonie?"

Namjoon shook his head to clear it as he looked up at Yoongi again. "Yeah," he said. "Everything's fine."

"You sure?"

Namjoon nodded, then took a sip of his drink so he didn't have to say anything further. Yoongi watched him disbelievingly. Namjoon avoided Yoongi's eyes.

"Well, okay then. If you're sure."

"You know what," Namjoon suddenly said. "I've had fun, but I really need to go."

"Go?"

"Yeah," he said, standing. "I'm sorry to cut this short, I just... I need to go."

"Um, okay," Yoongi said, a tone of worry in his voice. "Are you alright?"

"I just need to go. I'll see you at work on Monday."

And then he was gone. Yoongi watched him leave with a furrowed brow and concern in his eyes. What had just happened?