Playing Games?

PREVIOUSLY: "Jin Lang can stay with me. I don't mind." Jungkook piped up from where he was standing towards the back and moving forward a few steps. "Uh, I mean... Yeah. I don't mind if Jin Lang stays with me. He's not as messy as some of these other bastards here. Like Taehyung, specifically!" He egged Lan Taehyung on with his teasing while his cheeks had been covered in a faint blush from inviting Jin Lang to stay with him in the same room.

*******

Back at Wàng Jī Inn

Jeon Jungkook's P.O.V.

I have no fucking clue why I said Jin Lang can stay with me, shaking my head a little I smacked my palm against my forehead, groaning. Like.. What the fuck am I thinking?!

"Careful," Jin Lang warned, before following with something that made my cheeks feel as if they've been set alight. "I like boys who make sounds like that."

He flustered me and gave me butterflies in my stomach, I didn't enjoy the feeling at all. I scrunched up my nose and pouted which made him laugh, it was a beautiful sound, I think it was the first time I'd heard him laugh freely. Even if he was laughing at me I wanted to be someone who makes him laugh again. It struck me, in that fleeting moment, that I was flustered because I like him. I felt a hand on my shoulder as I came back to myself and saw him right in front of me, a worried look on his face.

"Hey, Kook? Are you okay man? You were out of it for a bit there." I shook my head to clear the cobwebs away; and the new revelation that I really liked someone else and after everything I went through with my ex? That's huge for me. My ex was a two-timing, controlling, abusive bitch.

"Yeah? Uh, yeah, I-I'm alright. Sorry. Zoned out for a hot mi-minute there, just.. Yeah. I-I'm okay." I stuttered. I wasn't nervous, really, but the revelation to me was curious. How could I like the guy I'd threatened plenty of times because he was stalking my cousin? I don't understand.

"Hey man? You wanna come get a drink with me? You look like you need one, I'll buy a couple of rounds since you're letting me stay with you in your room."

His warm hand firmly grasped mine as he lead me toward the bar without waiting for a verbal answer from me. I marvelled at the experience because few people (outside of family) willingly initiated contact with me, I felt my lips curl up in a small smile. I exhaled a deep breath and hoped he wouldn't reject me, as I linked our fingers together so our hands were clasped tighter I felt him squeeze my hand. My small smile became a little bigger because of him.

Reaching the bar we chose to be seated in a private booth instead of sitting at the bar itself. We ordered small meals to share and a few drinks to start us off, we talked about all sorts of things while we waited for the food and drinks, but what surprised me the most? Definitely how much we had in common- our similarities made me curious to know more and before I knew it we'd covered so many topics it was hard to keep track!

We talked about everything we could think of; the differences between my family and his, my cousin-in-law's really bad Dad jokes, different animals we'd owned, different jobs we'd worked and then onto our dream jobs, we talked about our favourite meals and drinks as well as our least favourite places, the various places that we'd lived at and absolutely loved, the cute people we'd met along the way, and those who were still in our lives today.

"Hey man, so, like, why'd ya say I can stay in your room? Like, you know I followed your cousin for years... Literally, man, years. You caught me a few times for it an' all over the years. No offence or whatever, ya know, but don't you hate me and shit?" Jin Lang looked earnestly at me, as if my answer would give him a reason to not lose himself. I recognised the look on his face because I'd seen it on the man in the mirror more than once. I shot him a crooked half smile, reminiscing for a moment.

"I don't hate you, A' Lang. I hate what you did and the stress you caused my cousin and Seokjin, you seriously almost fucked their business and relationship, more than once but, you know, I get it,"

I began the sentence, the lost look on his face when I mentioned my cousin's relationship showed me he really didn't understand the impact of his actions on Namjun and Seokjin. I reach out hesitatingly to take his hand.

"That. Right there," I stated.

"What?" Jin Lang asked, confused.

"The look on your face tells me you're sorry. Drunk actions and words are sober thoughts man. You didn't think about anything and, just like me, you royally fucked up, but worse. Don't ever do it again and we'll be fine. Seokjin was deadly serious when he said he'd make you disappear for real if you ever do anything like that again."

"Oh." Wide surprised eyes stared at me. "You'll have to make sure you keep me in line then, I guess." I wasn't sure if this was a question or a statement so I frowned.

"What?" It was my turn to be baffled, "What do you mean?" Jin Lang took my free hand, holding them tightly. I waited for him to say something, to be clear about his words and actions. The warm feeling in my stomach was back - I liked the feeling of my hands being wrapped in his, maybe too much. The male opposite me looked down and I swear he blushed.

"I, uh, please don't hate me, okay? Please? Ithinkilikeyouandwanttobewithyoubecauseyougetmeandsoidon'tfuckupagaineverwithyourcousinandi'mtooprettytodie."

I stared at him. "Repeat that slower because I didn't get fuck all fo what you said. I won't hate you."

"I think I like you and I want to be with you. You get me. And also so I don't fuck up with your cousins ever again because I, uh, I really, really don't want to die." I stared at him again while the words sunk in. Then, I laughed.

He looked so confused and worried, I gasped and held my stomach because he made me laugh so hard.

"Oh My Gods! You - you said you - you're too pretty to die!" I laughed.

"Really? That's what you got from what I said?" Jin Lang looked put out as he defended himself.

Once I calmed down from laughing, wiping a few stray tears from my cheeks, I got up, startling him. I moved from where I was sitting opposite him and sat next to him, he definitely blushed this time when I scooted closer than we'd been prior to this.

"I think I like you too, but I'm not sure. I'd like to get to know you better so if you want to, we can go on a few dates, or something?" I ended up phrasing it like a question more than a statement which made me flustered again. The smile Jin Lang responded with made it worth my bravery.

"Really? You'll let me take you on dates?" He asked in his straightforward manner making me blush a little as I held his eyes and nodded.

"Yeah. I'll date you."

*******