Neighbors with Benefits // BTS

New Help

March 25th

It was Saturday morning, and I made my schedule not to open on Saturdays or Sundays for my restaurant. So far after the grand opening, a few women made some reservations. They also enjoyed my French and Chinese cuisines and the clean environment. Every time they would exit the door, they would always ask the same question: "Why don't you invite men?" "I wish my husband would come to this place." "Please make boys come in your restaurant!" "You'll make more money if you allow both male and female to come into your place."

And it was true. I didn't make a lot of money since the last week. What if I didn't reach my goal? I imagined my mother mocking me with her smirk while moving out from this place. While eating my crepes, I felt a tear trickling down my face.

I needed help. I needed someone to help me. I had to allow men to come into my restaurant, or I'm out. I glanced at the sticky note I stuck onto my board. I didn't call Jin ever since the grand opening, nor did I saw him or the other men. I shivered and picked up my house phone.

He didn't pick up. What to expect. I removed him forcefully from my life because of my fears. I took in a deep breath and finished my crepes. I drank a glass of milk and almost spat it out when the house phone began to ring loudly. I hurried over to the phone and hesitated. Should I answer it? What if it was him? I grabbed the phone.

"H-hello?"

"Ah, Felicia, why do you sound like a wet puppy?"

My mother.

"Oh, Mother." I cleared my throat to sound more confident. "Good morning."

"How's your business?" I felt her smirk coming through the phone. She knew I was facing a little trouble.

"Fine. Actually. I'm getting used to this neighborhood." I said.

"Good, good. After all, this is what you wanted. Only if you reached the goal I put out for you. $100,000. Even I can make that much in a day."

"Yes. . ." I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Well, be in good health, and have a lovely day!" She sounded as sarcastic as my lies and I hung up. Five minutes later the phone rang and the thought of my mother came in my mind. I grabbed the phone and answered it. "Yes, Mother?"

"Mother? That means you're the father!" I heard a laugh right after.

Oh, goodness. I hiccuped immediately from his voice.

"I-I di-didn't mean-! I'm sorry!" I panicked.

"Hahaha, it's fine! I'm just teasing you. I saw an unknown number that appeared on phone and I totally remembered I gave you my cell phone number!"

I twirled my pink highlights with my finger to distract me for a little while. After his laughter died out and I took in a deep breath. ". . .I'm sorry. M-my actions were so unforgivable. . ."

"No! No!" I heard him shout through the phone. "Don't apologize, it's my fault! I didn't know you were uncomfortable."

The boulders were lifted off my shoulders. I was kinda relieved that he forgave me. This might be the first conversation I had with a man.

"I don't think we have introduced ourselves properly." He then said. "I'm Jin."

"F-Felicia is my name. . ." I softly smiled.

"What a beautiful name. Felicia~!" He sang my name so beautifully my face felt so hot all of a sudden.

"Can you, please. . . help me? I need help with my fears. . ." I asked him, I almost wanted to cry just thinking if he might reject my offer.

"Your fears? Oh my god." I heard a different voice over the phone and I hiccuped. Suddenly there was a lot of commotion coming from the phone. I pressed the speaker button to hear their conversations.

"Jungkook! Stop it!" I heard Jin yelled.

"Who are you talking to, Hyung?"

"Felicia!"

"Who's Felicia?" Another voice appeared from the line.

"Our new neighbor, Jimin."

"Oh. . ."

"I remembered her! She vomited-" Another voice.

"Hyung! That's not funny!"

"I'm just kidding!"

"As expected from our leader. Now, let me sleep!" Another voice. Leader?

"Guys, don't interrupt them!" Another voice.

"Fee! Fee!" I heard someone chanting my name. I was so confused, maybe I should hang up. I hiccuped again. Were those guys eavesdropping? I just wanted to talk to Jin! Hearing their voices somehow relaxed all of the pressure that was building up inside of me. I think it was Jin sighing in the background from the chattering. Slowly the chattering started to die down, hearing nothing but silence.

"Sorry, Felicia. Those guys can be annoying sometimes. . ." Jin sighed again. I let out a small laugh. I hadn't made a laugh ever since I moved in. I was so focused on reaching my goal.

"It's. . . fine." I tried not to stutter.

"So, where were we. . .? Oh! Your fears!"

I swallowed. "Men." I croaked out.

"What?"

"Men. I'm afraid of them."

". . .Really? Androphobia? I'm so sorry, you should have told me from the beginning!" He sounded worried through the phone and I started to cry from his voice.

"I-I need to get over them. . . Or I can't be a p-private chef. . ." I continued myself to explain why I had to get over this fear. And my goal to earn $100,000. I also told him I was raised around women which he deeply understood why I was so afraid of men in the first place.

"For twenty-two years. . ."

I nodded over the phone and sniffled. I grabbed a tissue right next to the kitchen and blew my nose.

"I'm coming over to your house." Jin then said.

"N-no! Don't!"

"How am I suppose to help you then?"

"I. . . um. . ."

"If you get used to having boys around you, your fears would go away. " He was right. Just thinking about the idea terrified me.

"Plus, I think you're more used talking to me them, those people." Referring to his brothers or friends. I didn't know if he was related to them or not so I asked, "A-are you guys. . . a family?"

"No!" He laughed loudly. "We're friends. To be more specific, we are actually k-pop idols. We call ourselves BTS."

"B. . .T. . .S. . ." That smoothed so well when I spoke each letter slowly to myself.

"Anyways, I'll make you some cookies before I come over. See you then, Felicia~!"

The way he said my name calmed me down and reminded me of my father. "Yes. I'll see you soon. . ." I quietly said after hanging up the phone.