House of Cards

2

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Leah asked Shreya as they sat at a cafeteria table, waiting for Jungkook to arrive.

"No, but I've gotta start somewhere. I'll be fine, I promise."

"Alright. Have fun, but not too much fun," Leah teased her friend. Shreya slapped her on the arm. Leah was just worried because of what happened in Shreya's last relationship. It hadn't exactly ended well.

"Hey, I got you a muffin," Jungkook appeared behind Leah with two bags in hand. Shreya's face brightened, but all Leah did was squint as she looked him up and down. "Hi," Jungkook said nervously, and stuck out his tattooed hand. "I'm Jungkook."

"I know who you are," she said harshly. "I just want you to know that Shreya is my main chungus and I know about a dozen great places to hide a body."

"Noted," Jungkook replied.

"Alright, well," Leah stood up and offered her seat, "You kids have fun." She walked over to the nurses' station, glancing back every few feet to make sure that Jungkook wouldn't try anything.

"Sorry about her," Shreya tried to laugh it off once Leah was out of earshot. "She means well, don't worry."

"I'm sure she does," Jungkook laughed with her. "My friend Jimin is the same way." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Shreya asked, taking a small bite of her muffin.

"It's just, he's the one I've been visiting these past few days. He had throat surgery and we're waiting to see if he'll get his singing voice back. We're both singers."

"You sing?" Shreya tried to change the touchy subject. Shreya had grown up singing, but all the boys she'd done duets with weren't nearly one eighth as hot as Jungkook.

"Yeah, a little. I don't think I'm very good, though," he confessed shyly as he fiddled with his fingers.

"I'm sure that's not true," she assured him. "Do you have any clips?" Jungkook nodded and pulled out his phone, bringing up a video of himself sitting on a bed. Shreya pressed play and listened as he began singing. The song sounded ten times better than the original, especially with his adorable accent.

"Jungkook! This is hot as heck!" Shreya couldn't contain her attraction to the boy in front of her. She always appreciated someone who had a passion for music like she did.

Jungkook lowered his head shyly."You really think so?"

Shreya nodded eagerly and began to give his phone back, but he reached out to stop her. "You didn't put your number in," he pouted. Shreya squealed internally as she texted herself from Jungkook's phone. For the first time in a long time, she was excited about starting something new. Jungkook's phone pinged as Shreya handed it back to him. He rolled his eyes when he read the text.

"It's Jimin. He wants me to bring him coffee," he explained.

"Oh," Shreya sighed, sad that their lunch was cut short.

"Wanna come with me?"

"Can I?" she asked excitedly.

"As long as you promise not to spill it on him," he winked. Shreya hit his arm playfully across the table, an action that was common among people she was close with. She didn't know why, but it felt like she'd known Jungkook for years. Their conversation flowed naturally, and Shreya felt completely comfortable with him, even though she'd met him just a little over 24 hours ago. Jungkook offered his tattooed hand and Shreya took it immediately, following him to the coffee counter. The worker there was the same woman from yesterday, and she nearly choked on her pretzel when she caught the sight of the teenagers' intertwined hands. Shrey a tried her hardest to suppress a laugh. Jungkook gave them both a weird look but ordered the coffee anyway. Suddenly, Shreya had a thought.

"Didn't you say your friend had throat surgery? Should he even be drinking coffee?" She asked. Jungkook stared down at the coffee in his hand and frowned.

"You're right, but Jimin cares a lot about his voice. I don't think he'd ask for coffee if it wasn't ok."

Shreya shrugged and the two walked down the hall to Jimin's room. Shreya was nervous. She hoped that Jungkook's friend would like her. Whatever this thing was between them was going well and she didn't want to ruin it. Jungkook let go of her hand and entered the room. Shreya followed behind cautiously. She watched as Jungkook did some type of handshake with his friend. Jimin looked tired; his black hair fell messily across his eyes. His room was in the pediatric hallway, which meant he was under eighteen, but Shreya would have guessed that he was much older.

"Jimin, this is Shreya," Jungkook motioned toward the doorway, where she stood awkwardly watching them. Jimin stuck out a hand and Shreya walked forward to shake it. His hands were surprisingly small.

"Hi Shreya, Jungkook wouldn't shut up about you last night. I barely got any sleep," he told her, prompting a bonk on the head from Jungkook.

"Are you even allowed to have coffee?" Jungkook asked.

"Of course not, chungus. Do you think I'm stupid?" Jimin teased him.

"Wait, did you say chungus?" Shreya asked.

"Hm? Yeah, it's just something my girlfriend says," he replied nonchalantly. "Look, there she is," he pointed out into the hall, where a girl was walking toward the room. Shreya nearly choked when she saw who it was.