D E S P E R A D O

three

"Seojun hyung." Jungkook calls the man sitting beside him in the black SUV.

They were currently making their way to the casino for the monthly clan leaders' poker game. Jungkook had been looking forward to it all week, concerned about the intimidating first impression he should give the other clan members.

"Yes?" the boss answers.

"Are other members of the clans going to be there too?"  

"They're allowed to be, it is a running casino after all. Last month I met the future leader of the Kim clan, you could have come along and met him too." Seojun grumbles.

"I had business to take care of."

"You always have a business to take care of! You never spend time with your old boss anymore." Seojun huffs and looks out the window.

Jungkook simply stares at the man. It was like he was bipolar. One second he would be a powerful and scary boss and in the next, he would whine like a child. Jungkook wants to know how he does it.

"Boss, we've arrived." the driver informs them.

They enter the gate and the car rounds the large fountain to the entrance to the casino. Immediately their doors are opened for them. Jungkook goes to the other side and stands beside Seojun. 

The cool air brushes past them as they enter the large door. The casino was extravagant as any casino should be. They walk away from where the public was and into a private elevator to take them up to where the important people played.

The elevator opened into a large hall with many couches,  a large fish tank, even a few tables where people could play. It was like the waiting lobby of a 7-star hotel. He saw a few people scattered all over that he didn't recognise. 

"Different clan members." Seojun notifies as if he read Jungkook's mind.

More people to intimidate. Jungkook thinks. 

He catches a glance of somebody familiar while walked but couldn't ponder further since they entered a dark room. There were powerful looking men seated all around the poker table. They stood up once Seojun arrived.

"Jungkook, this is Jung Minhyuck, Park Jihoon and Kim Daesung." Seojun introduces.

Jungkook stands straight and gives them a firm handshake. He was sure to make eye contact with each one of them. These were people who will be his competition when he takes the throne to the Jeon empire. He couldn't show any mercy.

"You are a very handsome young man, Jungkook." Minhyuck compliments.

Jungkook simple smiles and nods once. The four leaders started to converse as if they were old friends catching up. Jungkook didn't like it at all. They weren't supposed to be friends. It was a dog eat dog world in the black market. Friends would simply slow him down.

As if on cue his phone buzzes in his pocket. Jungkook knows exactly who it is. So much for friends slowing him down. The chatter in the room started to increase. Who knew the leaders of four dangerous clans in Korea were talkative. Not him.

Suddenly his mind started to wander. The person he saw at the lobby sparked something in him. There was somebody present who made Jungkook feel uneasy. All Jungkook knew is to find that person and throw them out. Enemies have no place in Jeon territory. 

When Jungkook resumed back from his thoughts he can see that the leaders were getting prepared for their poker game. Jungkook was not allowed to witness it since it could be a cheating method. He quietly excuses himself from the room.

His eyes scan the entire lobby as soon as the door closes behind him. There was nobody he recognized. Did they leave? Or was his mind simply playing tricks on him? 

Jungkook sits down on one of the couches and checks his phone. 

Slows me down

2 unread messages.

listen here you brat

im ur only friend in this world

Jungkook sighs and starts to type.

i dont need friends hyung

they disappoint me

too bad

jackson invited me to this party and theres no way in hell that im going alone

hyung i already told you that im busy

ur always 'busy'

just come this ONE time

please

plus yugyeoms gonna be there

i dont care about yugyeom smh

what do you expect me to say?

'oh of course ill come since yugyeom is coming hehehe'?

it was a one night stand for gods sake

multiple one night stands**

fine

then just come for me

pretty pleeeaaasseee

the physical appearance of the please does not affect me

i should have never let you watch that movie

Jungkook could almost feel his scowl through the phone.

okay fine ill come

YES thank you

ill text you the deets later

i have a job

im telling seojun hyung that youre texting me on the job

you wouldnt dare

He was right, Jungkook wouldn't dare. If there was anyone he was scared of it was Yoongi. But he would never admit that. When he met Yoongi he had just been recruited. He was vulnerable and scared. Yoongi put on an appearance of being cold and rude but he was the only person who took care of him. He was like Jungkook's brother in many ways. That's why he became so close to him. Yoongi became the family he lost.

Jungkook looks up from his phone and glances around. The lobby was less empty than it was when he sat down. There were some of him men but most people he didn't recognise. As usual he stared at every person in the lobby to memorize their faces, in case that would be useful in the future. 

Until something caught his eye. Two people sat a little far away from him, drinking coffee. But their faces were familiar. They were definitely not part of the Jeon clan. That meant that they were either important people, which was simply not possible since nobody outside the clans was allowed up when the high stakes poker game was going on, or they were members of the other clans.

 It wasn't until one of the two said something that made both of them laugh that Jungkook realized from where he recognized them. The club, the V.I.P. area, the laugh, the stranger. Then everything comes rushing back to him. He gulps as he searches around the lobby.

There was no doubt about it, the person he glanced at while entering the room, the person who made him feel uneasy, the man who consumed his emotionless mind for a short time, had to be there. It had to be him. 

He turns his head around to see behind him and his eyes widened. A few meters away tapping the glass of the large fish tanks and admiring the sea creatures, with his back turned to Jungkook. His poise, his style, his hair. Jungkook could recognize it anywhere.

It was him.