Staegma ✧ taejin

13

Day 4 after Taehyung told him he'd meet the non-human's parents: Seokjin felt uncomfortable playing RM in the cafe, so he purposely played classical music today.

Jaehwan, or better known as Ken, who is one of his coworkers in the cafe, had noticed his uneasiness during work.

He used to be sort of excited about this whole parents thing, but now he's questioning his sanity. Will he be okay after this? Or be attached to the virtual reality?

"Hyung, how do you keep yourself sane?"

Ken — or Jaehwan — looked at him questioningly. "Are you stressed out or something? You could always take a break, you know. I can take extra shifts."

"No, no, it's fine, hyung. Just curious."

Jaehwan reached out to get some butter to start baking, then he looked back at Seokjin with an indecipherable look on his face.

"Don't look at me like that, hyung."

"If you want to maintain your sanity, count. Have you watched Tokyo Ghoul? A thousand minus seven, then you subtract seven from that answer, and subtract seven again from the next, and subtract — that's all the advice I could give you to maintain sanity."

The younger had an epiphany — so was he supposed to count while meeting Taehyung's parents?

He could imagine the scenario perfectly — his parents with the subtitles, and Seokjin subtracting numbers by seven. What does that make him, then?

Anyway, Seokjin smiled. "Thanks, hyung."

Jaehwan nodded. "Don't mention it." He frowned annoyedly as his nametag that read KEN had fallen down on his shirt pocket. Seokjin tried to supress giggling at his coworker's expression.

When he finished doing what he had to do in the kitchen, he stepped out to help serve customers by the counter. The first one in line was a boy with a weird sense of fashion, judging from the large shoes and the transparent bag.

"Good afternoon, may I take your order?" Seokjin asked politely. The man had recited his coffee of preference and size of cup to drink, then Seokjin proceeded on asking his name to write on the cup.

"I'm your hope, I'm your angel."

Seokjin looked up. "Should I write Hope? Or Angel?"

"Aw, you're no fun," He smiled amusedly. "But the name's Hoseok."

-

Yoongi didn't acknowledge Seokjin's presence when the latter arrived home from work around midnight, his mind attentive to the television, which was playing the current events news.

"Is there anything I have to be worried about?" The elder asked from the doorway, as he took off his painful work shoes. "Weather predictions, laws, or something?"

"Taxes," Yoongi replied. "They've gone higher."

Seokjin groaned annoyedly.

"Have you paid the rent?"

"Yeah, on the way when I picked up my album money yesterday." Yoongi moved his green notebook to the other side of the couch. "Come here, sit."

They watched the news in silence.

-

Day 5 without Staegma: Seokjin was considering talking to Jimin about it. Something like giving a review.

"Hey, Yoongi, do you know Jimin's email address?" He asked while he was preparing to go to work. Yoongi replied decently after complaining Seokjin woke him up from sleep.

"Thanks," Seokjin said, rubbing his thumb on Yoongi's hand. "I have to go now. Good luck on your song."

Yoongi smiled his usual gummy smile at the contact, before returning back to sleep.

During his break from work, he decided to email Jimin about Staegma, which was more of a review, as he was planning.

Good day, Mr. Park Jimin. I am Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi's roommate.

Okay.

So what now?

Before he could continue thinking of a message, he got a notification that he received a new email.

Which was from none other than Park Jimin. Seokjin cursed quietly.

Greetings, Mr. Kim Seokjin.

This is Park Jimin, Min Yoongi's former classmate back in high school. I gave him Staegma. Let me skip the formalities — I have heard you were playing the game.

Can I ask you your thoughts about it?

Seokjin replied immediately.

I was about to email you regarding the same thing.

The game's quite nice, actually.

Park Jimin replied. Wow. You reply fast. How's Taehyung?

He's very realistic. Quite charming for a person.

Anyway, is meeting the parents actually part of the program?

Park Jimin replied quickly. That isn't supposed to happen, Mr. Kim. Please stop playing the game now.

Is there anything wrong, Mr. Park?

Park Jimin replied, I'm sorry. May we meet soon so I can retrieve the game? It was only for practice. I'm really sorry it had to go this far. Please. I'm sorry. Thank you so much for enjoying, but please.

Seokjin felt alarmed.