The Monogamy Monologues

Part 4

Jungkook stares at the elevator for a moment before shaking his head. Even with his luck, there is no way you are Namjoon's wedding planner. The cosmos would not be so cruel, as to have him unknowingly flirt with the singular off-limits woman this weekend. If he ever sees you again, he will be sure to clarify.

Turning around, Jungkook hikes his bag higher. The doors on the left are all even-numbers; the left is odd, and Jungkook comes to a stop outside room 3201. Through the door he can hear yelling and laughter. Somewhere over this raucousness is the unmistakable sound of Kim Seokjin's cackle.

Jungkook grins. Lifting a hand, he knocks as loud as he can. "LET ME IN!" Jungkook yells, banging harder. "HEY, GUYS. LET ME –"

The door abruptly swings open. Jungkook halts his hand before he hits Taehyung in the face.

Beaming, Taehyung lifts the beer he holds. "Jungkook!" he calls, throwing an arm around his neck.

Allowing himself to be pulled into a hug, Jungkook tries to avoid spilling Taehyung's beer in the process. The promotion Taehyung recently got was due to a lot of long hours – it has been a while since Jungkook last saw him.

Pulling back, Jungkook's bag accidentally knocks Taehyung's drink. "Whoops," he mumbles, looking down at the carpet. "Hope that rug wasn't expensive."

"It was," Namjoon sighs, appearing in the doorway. "Don't worry, though. I have cleaners coming on Sunday."

"Aces," Taehyung grins.

The rest of the room looks at him quizzically.

"Aces?" Seokjin cracks up on the sofa.

"Taehyung has been trying out different slang," Yoongi explains, seated before the window. In one hand, he holds a glass of red wine. "This week it's the 1940's."

Shaking his head, Jungkook scans the room. Yoongi has returned to black hair, which is a nice surprise. It falls lazily across his forehead and his cheeks are a little fuller than the last time Jungkook saw him. He looks happy – Jungkook assumes this has something to do with the woman Yoongi is currently seeing. It is not surprising she did not come this weekend, though. Yoongi tends to compartmentalize until he is sure things are serious.

Speaking of which. Pivoting to Seokjin, Jungkook's eyes widen. "Your hair!" he blurts. "It's pink."

Seokjin shrugs. "Lilac."

"No, pink."

Not seeming to care, Seokjin lifts his glass of champagne. "Whatever. More importantly – where are the croquettes?"

"Here." Pulling them from his bag, Jungkook tosses them in his direction. "But seriously, you brought a girl?" he continues, not to be deterred.

It is not as if Seokjin does not date – he is no Jungkook, Jungkook thinks glumly. He is notoriously picky though, falling in love every other month. For someone to stick around long enough to attend a wedding is novel.

Seokjin glares at Namjoon. "Who told him?"

"Me." Jimin appears on the threshold. Stepping inside, he closes the door to the hall. "I'm here!" he grins, tossing his bag on the floor. "The party can officially begin."

"Good," Taehyung says, nodding towards the window. "Catch up to Yoongi, then. He's been drinking since three."

Taehyung's dark hair is messy, artfully styled in a way which probably took a long time. Likely the work of Ava, Taehyung's fiancée. Ava adores hair and make-up – she does something in the field in New York, although Jungkook is unsure of the details.