The Hunt

56

After a rather quick and uneventful dinner, we retired to the lounge area upstairs. Jin mixed himself a drink while we waited for Hoseok and Namjoon to finished cleaning up the dinner mess.

"So, Sarah, how long have you been in Korea?" Jin asked, taking on the role of party host with ease.

"It's been about two years now. I'm here as a student." Sarah replied as she settled into the lone arm chair in the lounge.

"And how do you and Y/n know each other?"

"Y/n was my conversation partner my first semester at the university. My Korean was still a bit shaky, and she helped me with it."

"We would meet up a few times a week for an hour or so just to talk, and it blossomed into friendship." I added. "I left school the next semester, but we stayed in touch."

Jin nodded silently as if our story seemed plausible.

A loud crack followed by a moan stole everyone's attention.

Taehyung was sprawled out face-down on the floor while Jungkook sat on top of him, adjusting the older male's spine.

"Ya! Jungkook-ah! Don't kill him!" Yoongi bellowed.

I tried to sneak a glance at Jimin who was seated on the other couch, opposite Yoongi. But his stony expression made my heart sink a little.

I guess the lust effect has worn off.

I mentally kicked myself as I realized how disappointed I was by that fact. I'm an idiot. Of course none of that was real for him. But I had to be dumb and go develop a crush, didn't I? Stupid hormones!

Namjoon and Hoseok joined us. The latter pouting when he saw Sarah in the arm chair. He chose to sit on the floor, his back resting against the chair. Sarah gently ran her fingers through his hair causing a bright smile to spread over Hoseok's face as his eyes fluttered close.

Jungkook took a seat next to me, and Namjoon at the other end of the same couch. Jin made Jimin move into the middle, between him and Yoongi, so he could set his drink on the end table. Taehyung remained on the floor, but slowing rolled over so he was laying face-up.

"Well, who wants to go first?" Jin asked and took a sip of his drink.

Everyone just looked around at each other nervously, avoiding eye contact with Jimin.

After a few minutes of no one speaking, Jimin sighed loudly. "My uncle had cut JiHoon off financially as a way to incentivize him to find his missing fiance. I also found out Grandma Park's wedding ring is missing. It's likely he pawned it for cash."

Yoongi patted Jimin's knee, and cleared his throat. "Looking into The Council's records, apparently, JiHoon had been researching how to change Park Security from a privately held company into a publicly traded one. The Council had been watching him pretty closely it seems." Yoongi gestured to me. "He had asked Y/n's father for a loan a few weeks ago. Venture capital for a computer program he was working on. The Council takes very detailed meeting notes."

I glanced at Jimin. His eyes were focused on the adjacent wall, and his balled fists rested in his lap.

"We found out he was working seven days a week at the bar. He was picking up extra shifts and covering for people. He told his coworkers he was strapped for cash," Hoseok added from his position on the floor. "They all really liked him there. Said he was a hard worker and good with customers."

Without warning, Jimin stood from the couch and quickly started down the stairs. I listened to him walk down to the basement, and close his bedroom door.

The guys looked around, concern on their faces, but none of them made a move to go after him.

I hesitated briefly before standing up. "I'll check on him."

I could clearly see relief on the faces of Yoongi and Jin, and didn't bother to look to the others. Quietly, I made my way downstairs. My mind momentarily flashed to the last time I was in the basement of that house, and I felt my cheeks heat up. Stupid hormones! Now is not the time!

As I raised my fist to knock, the door to Jimin's room swung open.

Before my mind could register his movements, Jimin pulled me into the room and closed the door in one swift motion. He shoved me against the back of the door a little too roughly, and I could see fire behind his eyes.

Crap.

My eyes nearly bulged out of my head as his lips crashed onto mine, but the shock was fleeting and I reciprocated almost immediately.

The initial intensity began to decrease as the kiss became more tender.

Jimin pulled away slightly, his forehead resting against mine, and his breathing was heavy.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him closer.