Free Kisses

The company Christmas party was in full swing.  It was the first one he had attended and he wasn't sure what he should be doing.  Everyone from his department was here so at least he knew some people, but the company was huge and scores of unfamiliar people passed by him as he hovered near the wall. 

Some people were already drunk, having the time of their life while some others were simply enduring the party till they could go home.  Taehyung was in the latter group.  It wasn't that he hated parties but he just had to work his way into a party mood.  He had purposely showed up late just so he wouldn't have to stay long. 

"Hyung!"  A young man walked up to him with a large smile.  "You came!"

"Jungkook!  Of course.  I told you I would be here." Taehyung smiled broadly at his coworker who possessed a brilliant smile. When Jungkook was trying o pinhole Taehyung into coming a few days ago, he only had to flash that smile for Taehyung's defenses to crumble and commit to attending.

"Are you sure you didn't just come to get your bonus check?"  Jungkook grinned and winked at his friend.  "C'mon over to our table.  Namjoon Hyung is sulking."

"Why?"  Taehyung followed his friend through the crowd, dodging dancing people and waiters with trays of food. 

"He hasn't been able to get more than one phone number all night."  Jungkook chuckled as they arrived at a large round table in the far back corner.  The rest of the guys from Taehyung's department were seated around the table. Empty plates and cups were scattered around it, as if they had all been there a while already.

"Tae!  You came!"  Jimin jumped up and slapped his friend on the back.

"Yeah," laughed Taehyung lightly.  He sat his cup of soda on the table and looked around the darkened room, the flashing lights making his head spin a bit.

"Look," said Jimin, leaning close to his shoulder. 

Taehyung looked down to Jimin's phone, filled with unassigned numbers.  "What are those?"

"Phone numbers, silly," smirked Jimin, casting a smug look at Namjoon. "He's just mad because he's losing the game."

"You mean he's losing HIS game," quipped Jin.

"Gimme a break," groaned Namjoon.

"Just admit it.  The girls like Jimin better," teased Hoseok.

Taehyung sat back in his chair and watched his friends joke and tease each other.  He adored these guys.  Their department was one of the most productive ones.  The synergy this group of seven had had impressed everyone right up to the CEO of the company.  There wasn't one project they hadn't been able to knock out in record time.  All the other departments had tried and failed to reach their level of productivity.  By spending long nights and weekends together, the group had come up with a winning strategy of accomplishing their given objectives.  As a result, the seven young men had become fast friends, spending free time and holidays together, as well as weekends.  They were the cream of the crop.

"Are you planning on calling any of those girls back," asked Taehyung, looking at Jimin.  He knew his friend was a player when it came to girls. His past relationships, if you could call them that, lasted no more than two dates at the most, usually because Jimin refused to go on any more. He always said he was too young to settle down and hang up his hat for one girl. Taehyung was the opposite. He didn't date around, choosing instead to save his heart for that one special lady.

Jimin leaned back in his chair and laughed.  "No way.  It's just for the game."

"What game?"