Love Maze

The guests gathered as Seo-yeon and Jin drove off in their vehicle for a weekend honeymoon. Being business oriented, they had agreed that a short honeymoon would be acceptable. They wished to keep working while jumping straight into living in marital bliss.

Everyone waved as they drove into the distance, still holding hands. Yoongi and Eun-ha stood side by side as the other guests returned to the reception to either continue partying, or grab their belonging to depart. They watched their best friends become a mere dot at the end of the road. They knew they would see them at work, but it felt surreal knowing that they were the first married couple in the circle of friends.

As if feeling the same emotions calling to one another, they shifted to catch each other's stare. Each shared the same bittersweet feeling. Thrilled for the new chapter in their friend's life, but sad that they would not be as available as before. They smiled at each other as if soothing the others' spirits.

"Would you like to-" Yoongi spoke.

"Oppa!" Lovee interrupted his question.

Eun-ha stood, flabbergasted at the affectionate nickname. There were not many people outside with them, but the name did attract the attention of those around. They whispered among themselves. It was obvious that they questioned the relationship between Yoongi and Lovee.

Yoongi frowned in irritation, "Watch how you address me in public, Miss Song."

Blinking innocently, Lovee linked her arm with his. "Unnie, tell Suga to loosen up!"

Sighing in exasperation, Yoongi unlinked her arm from him, and put some distance between them. He looked at Eun-ha, who had remained quiet during the interaction. Her eyes expressed hurt, which surprised him. 'Could it be?' He questioned.

"Miss Song, please be cautious of your surroundings. I'm sure Manager Ji-hoon has warned you about the risk of placing yourself in unwanted scandals," Eun-ha hid her hurt, and acted as his manager, "If you choose to act as you wish, I cannot control that, but as his manager, I will not allow my artist to be placed into an unwanted position."

Yoongi grinned in approval of her stance on the given situation. She maintained her professionalism. She glanced at him, and gestured to her side. He understood her silent command to stand by her side. There was no hesitation in his steps. He stood proudly by his manager's side.

"Unnie! Must you be so serious?" Lovee whined, "You two and the other members are always on friendly terms. What am I doing that's so wrong?"

"Our relationship has never overstepped friendship. Nor have I ever hung onto his arm, and called him so intimately," Eun-ha held her hand up to stop Lovee from issuing another plea, "Calling him by his name is something I do as his manager, and friend. I address him by his stage name when in public, or with the media."

"Would our relationship really be an issue? Jin just married, and the world approves. What would be so wrong with us being on friendly terms?" the young idol debated.

Eun-ha braced herself for further explanation for this stubborn woman. Yoongi interrupted her before she could even open her mouth. He stepped forward, slightly in front of her as if playing the role of her shield.

"Jin and Seo's situation is completely different," he stated in a stern voice, "I do not feel what they feel for each other towards you. Friendship is something that is developed gradually, but you have made it embarrassingly obvious that you do not wish for that. I look forward to working with you on this album, but that's as far as I see this going."

Lovee stood with tears in her eyes at the harsh words that spewed out of Yoongi's mouth. Eun-ha's heart broke for the young woman. She only wanted to prevent a scandal. She had not meant to demolish her feelings. Even if she felt pain herself at the two being linked together, she intervened for professional reasons. 'Only for those reasons?' she asked herself.

"Yoongi," Eun-ha gripped his wrist to draw his attention. He saw her anxious expression and sighed. He knew he was too coarse with Lovee, but he had wanted to end her irritating attempts to create a romantic relationship.

The exchange wasn't missed on Lovee, and it crushed her even more. Not wanting to embarrass herself further, she turned and ran off in the direction of her manager's car.

"I better get Ji-hoon," Eun-ha sighed.

"I'll get him," Yoongi offered and walked away.

************************

Yoongi drove in silence. Eun-ha sat in the passenger seat unsure of what to say to break the awkwardness. Everyone had set to depart, and Yoongi offered to take her home. At first prepared to reject the offer, Eun-ha accepted when the maknae line encouraged her to go with him.

"That's very kind of you hyung!" Tae praised while shouldering Jimin, who nodded in agreement.

"Noona, you should get your bag. Yun-Yun will be at ease knowing that Yoongi took you home," Jungkook gently placed her purse strap on her shoulder. She frowned at him, but he smiled innocently in response.

Wishing to avoid another scene, she relented and followed him towards the parking lot. Neither had spoken since the incident with Lovee. Ji-hoon had apologized for his artist's behavior, to which Yoongi apologized for his sharp tongue. Understanding that she had created an uncomfortable environment for all of them, Ji-hoon accepted that the harsh words were needed to prevent any further issues from the enamored woman.

They had spent the remainder of their time surrounded by the others. They filled the night with laughter and avoided being alone. They could feel a small shift in their relationship. Lovee's question of their friendship and boundaries made them aware of the feelings they were trying their hardest to ignore.

"I'll walk you to your apartment," he left the car before she could decline.

They walked without speaking to one another. The air was still and neither knew what to say. They stopped in front of her door, and faced off. She found it difficult to meet his eyes, but she did anyway. He felt his pulse quicken at her stare. He hadn't spoken when the maknae line commented on beauty, but as he watched her now, he couldn't deny the attraction he felt.

"Thank you for bringing me home. You should head home. We have to meet with Lovee to begin recording," she turned to unlock her door. The gentle touch of fingers locking on her hand stalled her. Her back still to him, he placed his other hand on her shoulder and closed the small space between them.

"Yoongi," she nervously said.

"I don't know what's happening to me, or when it started," he whispered, "I can't get you out of my mind. Your smile, your laugh, it's all I find myself looking forward to. I even anticipate our disagreements."

He firmly turned her around to face him. She shyly looked up at him. His eyes scanned her face as if capturing every feature to his memory. His lifted his hand to cup her cheek. Her eyes slightly widened at the intimate touch. His eyes locked onto her lips, and his thumb tenderly traced the outline of it. Her mouth twitched at the sudden contact.

"We shouldn't-"

His mouth hungrily met hers before she could finish her sentence. Her mind screamed to end this, and shove him away. She knew this was wrong, but her hands gripped at his coat, pulling him closer. His tongue gently played at the opening of her mouth. With little persuasion, she willing opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. His arms held her pressed against his chest.

The sound of a distant door slamming broke the kiss. He still held her in his arms, and stared down at her flushed face. He wasn't sure what he had hoped to accomplish from kissing her. However, the intimate contact was eye-opening for him. It confirmed that he felt more than friendship for her.

Eun-ha was torn between the shock of realizing her own feelings and embarrassment for crossing the line. She was on the verge of tears having crossed a line managers are not to ever cross.

"Eun-ha," he lifted her chin to get her attention. He froze when he caught the tears building in her eyes. "What's wrong?" he worriedly asked.

"What kind of manager am I?" she croaked.

He hadn't considered her position. Her job status and her need to prove herself. He selfishly acted on his own needs and didn't think of what this would do to her. He reluctantly pulled away from her. She bit her lip but continued to face him.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I shouldn't have."

"No," she disagreed, "I allowed it. I welcomed it."

They stared at each other. The kiss still fresh on their lips and minds. The hunger to continue what they started lingered in their eyes. Each fought the urge to pull into another embrace.

"I promised you that I could be professional. That I would not let my personal feelings interfere with this position. I failed," she sighed, "I'm sorry. We can discuss finding you new representation tomorrow."

Before he could stop her, which he was about to, she quickly escaped into the safety of her apartment. Yoongi stood in confusion of what had transpired between them. He was not ready to part from her as his manager, and not willing to end what he felt. 'Tomorrow,' he playfully thought, 'I'll be damned if you're going to retreat that easily.'