#namjoon x studentreader
Pairing: Kim Namjoon x f!reader (with a side of Hoseok x reader and Taehyung x reader)
Summary: Namjoon never wanted a Sugar Baby, no matter what Yoongi and Hoseok said. You never wanted a Sugar Daddy, despite the insistence from Jimin. Until your life takes a turn and you really need the money, fast. What was supposed to be a one night thing, a birthday present for a big time rapper and producer, turns into so much more when you find in each other what you never thought you had been looking for.
Genre: Fluff, angst, so much smut, strangers to lovers, sugar daddy au.
Chapter warnings: TIME AND DATES MAKE SENSE DURING THE STORY! Keep an eye out for them. Drinking, mentions of being drunk, angst, jealousy, SMUT!
WC: 12K
←Previous| Series Materlist|Next →
NOVEMBER 25TH | 10:15
“Are you alive in there?” Jimin was calling for you. “I’m coming in.”
You pulled the covers over your head as the door to your bedroom opened. You heard shuffling, then felt the pull of the covers off of you. Protests didn’t matter with Jimin, so you were left huffing and trying to grab for a pillow.
“I could be naked, you know.” you warned him.
“Yeah, well, nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Jimin was using his no bulshit tone, Busan satoori thick on his pouty complaints.
You didn’t blame your best friend, you had been in bed for the past three days; skipping classes and barely leaving your room for meals. The trip to NYC had absolutely drained you, the jet lag only actually hitting you with full force once you made it back to Seoul. Plus, you couldn’t remember a night on the short weekend trip that you got more than five hours of sleep.
Not that you were complaining, you still thought it had been one of the best weekends of your life. Even with all of the ups and downs and the way your last night ended.
“I got you food.”
“What kind of food?”
“The kind you eat, now sit up and talk.”
You groaned loudly, eyes fighting to get used to the new clarity in the room from the blinds having been pulled open. Jimin wasn’t actually mad at you, he was merely a believer of tough love. And after being in bed for so long, you had to start reacting to life and getting back to your normal routine.
Sitting against your pillows and headboard, you received the paper bag and coffee cup that Jimin had gotten for you from the cafe near SNU.
“How was class today?” you asked while pulling out the cinnamon roll from the paper bag.
“Everyone is going a little crazy with the expo coming up, most teachers are just letting us work on it.” Jimin sat across from you, folding his legs on his lap.
“See? I’m not even missing much.”
“Mr. Min asked about you.”
“Who’s Mr. Min?”
You didn’t remember having any teachers with that last name. Unless the jet lag had messed you up so bad you were forgetting things.
“Min Yoongi.” he said with a giggle. “He picked me up from class today, just to give me a ride home before going back to work.”
“What a dedicated sugar daddy.”
“He is. But I think he was on a secret mission.”
You ate a few more bites of your dessert and took gulps of the iced coffee. Jimin eyed you suspiciously before saying:
“I was under the impression Namjoon hyung sent him to get news from you.”
“He could have texted me himself.” your shoulders moved up and down.
Jimin reached for your phone on the nightstand beside your bed, trying to wake up the sleeping device. He waved the ‘NO BATTERY’ sign lighting up on the screen before going black again.
“Oh shit, I thought I had plugged it in!” you cried out, pulling the charging cord and finding it dangling, not stuck to the wall like you thought. “Alright, my bad. I’ll text him later.”
“Later? Alright, what happened? Last thing I know you’re texting me plans for a confession, and now you don’t even care about seeing or talking to him?”
“Of course I care about all that, Minie. I miss that goofy giant so much!”
“Then what’s the problem, babe?”
You took a deep breath, scrunching up the paper bag after finishing your food.
“I don’t know how to act around him right now.” you admitted.
“Did he not reciprocate your feelings?”
“I never told him about my feelings.”
Jimin’s small eyes grew round as he raised his eyebrows and pushed his plush lips into a glossy pout.
The three days you spent in bed –and away from Namjoon– were enough to help you put things into perspective. You weren’t mad, nor upset with Namjoon. You understood that his ex showing up wasn’t his fault, he wasn’t interested in pursuing things with her. But you were put under the impression that things were still fresh between them, that maybe he wasn’t ready to start a new relationship, maybe he wasn’t even interested in one.
So you told your friend about Aecha and everything you knew about her, as well as the few encounters you had with her, which culminated on her surprise visit to your hotel room and asking Namjoon to get back together. You left out all of what Namjoon had told you in bed that night, things much too personal for passing along, but Jimin still got the jist of things.
“So you’re just not saying anything anymore?”
“How can I say anything? I’m not sure I want to get in the middle of whatever it is that’s going on between them.” you sighed. “Besides, if Namjoon feels something for me, he can tell me himself.”
“I’ll support whatever you want to do.” he smiled softly. “But you won’t stop seeing him, will you?”
“I don’t think I could do that even if I wanted to. I guess things will just stay the same.”
“That’s better than nothing, I guess.” Jimin started getting up from your bed. “Now text him, or I’m going to start feeling jealous of all of Yoongi’s questions.”
“Oh, please, that man is a simp for you.”
NOVEMBER 25TH | 12:35
“Bzzzzzzzzzz.”
Namjoon jumped in his chair, reaching for the phone on the table in front of him. Only to see no new notifications on the screen and Hoseok laughing his ass off next to him.
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” Namjoon mumbled, eyes almost coming to a complete close.
“She still hasn’t texted?”
“She has, we’ve been talking nonstop.” he deadpanned. “That’s why I jumped when I thought my phone was buzzing.”
Hoseok fell into a fit of laughter again, having a great time at his best friend’s misery.
They were both sitting in a private room of a restaurant they liked to go to every now and then. It was one they would walk past during the years when Cypher was only a dream and they barely had the funds to eat three meals a day. Ever since they grew big and successful, the two of them –and Yoongi, who should be arriving soon– made a point of coming back and having a hearty meal at least once a month.
“Do you want me to text her? Maybe she’ll answer me.” Hoseok meant well, but his sly smile wasn’t helping.
“Not the time for you to hit on her, hyung.”
“I didn’t even mean it like that–” the shorter man tried bulshitting his way through, but Namjoon’s pointed look showed he didn’t even get to try. “Alright, I did. But I actually need to talk to her about sending me hers and that Jungkook guy’s portfolio.”
“Do you think you can fit them in for Seokjin’s mv?”
“If they’re good.”
Namjoon didn’t know anything about Jungkook’s work, just that he had a good heart and was mostly excited about music and filming. But he knew you, and he knew you were good at what you did. This could be an opportunity for you to start off the career path you wanted, the first step towards the success he knew you’d have.
“So if I text her, I can ask her to come to the building and you can talk to her then.” Hoseok tried, and this time he didn’t have any ulterior motives.
“I don’t want to have to lure her in to talk to her.” Namjoon scoffed behind his water glass. He really wished it was alcohol instead.
“You know what I don’t get?” Hobi was saying as he fixed his slouched posture and leaned over the table. “Why are you so pressed about her answering you if you just told me this morning you weren’t confessing anymore?”
The last conversation he had with Aecha that night in New York had put a damper in his plans to tell you how he felt, to ask you out for real. It made him realize that he had issues within himself that he needed to work on before starting a new relationship. It wouldn’t be fair to you, and it wouldn’t be fair to him, to just jump into something now when he wasn’t ready.
“Because just because I don’t think I can be a good boyfriend to her right now, doesn’t mean I don’t want to keep seeing her.”
“You mean you want to keep fucking her?” Hoseok felt into his chair again, eyes staring at nothing as his head leaned to the side. “Can’t say I blame you. I miss that mou–”
“Watch it.”
“Yah, you two bickering like an old married couple already?” Yoongi was throwing himself into the last empty chair across from them.
The elder looked tired, as he always did, but his lips were slightly red and his pale skin had a fresh purple bruise on his neck. Yoongi wasn’t even trying to hide the fact his morning had been a lot more exciting than theirs.
“So?” Namjoon perked up at the arrival of his other best friend.
“Jimin said your girl is fine. Messed up from the jet lag, not avoiding you.” Yoongi explained and Namjoon felt a little relieved. “Also, she forgot to plug her phone in, so she didn’t get any of your texts.”
“Ah. Silly baby.” usually he was really good at masking his stupidly fond reactions to you, but he hadn’t seen you in three days.
“Yikes. Is that how I get about Jiminie?” Yoongi grimaced.
“You’re worse.” both boys said in unison.
The waitress came over with a new glass of cold water for the newcomer and took their orders. They had been over so many times that no one even had to look at the menu. After she was gone and they were left alone again, Yoongi sighed.
“You might have bigger problems than a discharged phone.”
“What is it?”
“You remember how Mr. Lee has a spot at Cypher, since he’s one of our main investors?” he started, and both Hoseok and Namjoon frowned.
“Don’t tell me he wants to start working for us.” Hoseok scoffed.
“No, not him. He wants the spot for Aecha.”
“Absolutely not.” Namjoon was shaking his head. “What happened to her job?!”
“He said she’s trying to branch out.” even Yoongi didn’t believe that.
“Well, tell her to branch out somewhere else.” Namjoon was starting to get agitated.
It was obvious to the three of them just why Aecha wanted to be a part of Cypher. Now of all times.
“We can’t not accept her, Joonah.” Yoongi said, even if he felt for his dongsaeng.
“Yes we can.”
“Yeah, if you want to start taking in any artist, and not only the ones we like and believe in.” Hoseok pondered. “Are you ready to become –how do you put it– a producer whore?”
NOVEMBER 25TH | 17:46
As it turns out, talking to Joon –even if through texts– did help lift your spirits quite a bit. You hadn’t talked about anything too serious, but you had made plans to meet tomorrow. He would give you a ride to classes in the morning and then pick you up again for lunch. And maybe, just maybe, you’d ask to come over to his penthouse later that night with the excuse of seeing Monie.
You missed Joon today. But not seeing him until the morning would give you time to psychologically prepare yourself to see Namjoon. You’d have all night to make it clear to your head –and more troublesomely, your heart– that all that you felt for the man needed to stay locked inside a drawer until told otherwise.
But the universe had other plans for you.
Just after your shower, when you were still towel drying your hair and leaving the bathroom you shared with Jimin, the doorbell to your small apartment rang twice.
“Minie?” you called, twisting the key to unlock the door. “Forgot the key– Oh, Joon!”
“Hey.” he smiled, albeit a little awkwardly. He eyed your wet hair and the towel in your hands. “Did I get here too late?”
A giggle was breaking out of you, and suddenly things were okay between you two. You opened the door wider for the big man to fit through, only now realizing you were wearing a pair of old Pokémon pajamas and you hoped he wouldn’t mind it.
“What are you doing here?”
“Couldn’t wait until tomorrow.” he sighed, letting you notice his heady shoulders and tired stance. “Wanted to see you so bad.”
Step one: Controlling the butterflies in your stomach. Mission status: Failed.
“And a little duckie told me you haven’t been eating right.” Joon said, showing you a takeout bag from one of your favorite restaurants you had gone together once before.
“Little duckie? Is that what you call Jimin?”
He shook his head, following you into the kitchen. “Yoongi hyung calls him that. It’s kinda cute.”
“That’s funny, Minie calls him kitty.”
“Okay, that’s starting to be a little too sweet.” he laughed, resting the takeout on your small counter. “Why won’t those two just admit their feelings and get this suffering over with?”
Step two: Ignoring the pang in your chest. Mission status: Failed.
You nodded at his words, wondering if there was more to the statement or if it was just wishful thinking on your part.
“Maybe they are scared that taking that step might change things too much. Maybe they aren’t ready.” you said without looking at him, tearing through the plastic bags.
“And it’s okay to keep things how they are, as long as they still have each other.” Joon said, absentmindedly.
Again, you agreed with a move of your head, focusing on opening the lids of the takeout containers without getting burned with the steam. Namjoon had picked your favorite from the little italian restaurant in Hongdae; tomato sauce pasta and crispy chicken.
“Fuck, that looks delicious.” you almost drooled on the spot.
Namjoon’s low chuckle was right behind you, freezing you in place. His hands went to each side of you on the counter, chin resting on the top of your head.
“Thought you needed something good to heal the jet lag.”
“It’s great. Should I put it on a pan and make some sauce splashes, or is it okay if I just put it on plates?”
“Aish, you’ll never let me leave it down, will you?”
You looked up right in time to see his dimples poking at his cheeks.
Step three: Not melting from his face. Mission status: miserably failed.
“I’ll forget about it when you actually cook for me.”
“I already told you I’ll make you that cereal ice cream you loved so much.”
Your nose twisted as you walked away from Namjoon to pick up the plates and serve your dinner. You already missed his warmth and at that point you gave up on your missions for tonight. It was a lost battle from the moment he stepped into the apartment.
The two of you ate the delicious food on the small kitchen table, talking about nothing and everything. As it turns out, Namjoon was a big fan of Pokémon and even told you about his card collection. He said he kept it hidden, for reasons you could guess, but he could show them to you whenever you wanted. In return, you told him you had a couple decks yourself, but they stayed behind at your mother’s house.
He was very disappointed about that, telling you he had some you could trade.
After the food had been consumed, you got up to gather the empty takeout containers in a trash bag and Namjoon looked around with a confused wrinkle on his forehead and the dirty plates on his hand.
“Looking for something?” you laughed while tying the knot on the trash bag.
“Your dishwasher?”
“You really don’t remember what it’s like to be a broke university student, do you?” you snickered. “Fame changes people.”
“It’s alright, I can just wash it by hand. Like we’re back in prehistoric times.”
You laughed louder, fondly watching the man walk around your kitchen picking up everything that was dirty and bringing it to your too-low-of-a-sink and start washing them. And you were a weak woman. You see a tall man in sweatpants and white shirt, doing home chores, and you get a little silly.
“Just leave it there, I can wash them later.” you were saying as you hugged his middle, face smushing against his back.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” you kissed his spine, feeling how his muscles contracted as he moved. “Wanna show you something in my room.”
That was an easy fight to win, as you heard the faucet closing and felt Namjoon wiping his hands on his pants, even with the perfectly good tea towel hanging just beside his head. When he turned around, so did you. Namjoon stuck to your back, much like you had done to him, and followed you closely into your bedroom.
He sat on the edge of your bed without you even needing to tell him, the poor thing must have been so tired. You walked to your small study desk, unzipping your backpack that was all ready for tomorrow, producing a black folder. You gave it to Namjoom, who opened it curiously and flipped carefully through the pages.
“Is this your work?” he sounded impressed, but not surprised at all. “Wow, this is really great.”
You had prepared that folder with a few of your styling jobs you did in the past. They had been few and far between, but you weren’t as inexperienced as he might think.
“At the end I added a few collages of pieces I think would look good on Jin.” you told him, helping him reach those pages.
Namjoon studied the choices, nodding and pointing to his favorite sets and picks.
“You got the concept perfectly. How did you guess?”
“I can’t take all the credit, Hobi did tell me a little of the concept you guys are planning for the music video.” you received the folder back and zipped it up, leaving it on top of your too cluttered desk. “Will you bring it to him tomorrow, please? I’ll get Jk’s flash drive in the morning and give it to you at lunch?”
“Yeah, sure.” Namjoon nodded, but all he could think about was: “When have you talked to hyung?”
“You mean, today?”
“No, I mean when did he get your number?” he tried sounding casual, even matching his words with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Oh. He asked me for it on Jimin’s birthday.” you said as you organized a little of the mess on your table. “You know, after the three of us…”
Had sex. Together. All three of you.
At the time it had been fun, and Namjoon didn’t regret it. If the situation was right, he wouldn’t mind doing it again, even. But right now his brain was conjuring up the memories of Hoseok laughing at his phone, being secretive about who he was talking to, and even the times he excused himself from the room to pick up a call in the hallway.
“Joonie.” he looked up at your call, only now noticing you were standing in front of him. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of him too.”
“Me? Jealous?” he scoffed.
It sounded fake even to his ears.
You bit down your lips to stop a laugh, pushing him back by the shoulders to have him sit up straight and you could swing your legs to each side of his hips. You fit so nicely on his lap, it felt like home to you.
Namjoon didn’t think twice about circling your waist with his arms, looking slightly up to your face.
“You don’t have to be jealous of Hobi.” you said with a small hand caressing his cheek. “He’s just a friend.”
“Okay.” his lips puckered in a way of asking for a kiss.
“A very hot friend.” you continued, kissing his pout that turned into a thin line. “A friend that has seen me naked.” another kiss. “A friend I wouldn’t mind fucking again–”
“Shut up.”
He said without any real bite, but some fake annoyance. Namjoon pulled you by the back of your neck to shut you up himself. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but it was kind of hot to have you saying those things, teasing him with the ideas of a new threesome, even if it did make him a smidge jealous. He just loved how fun you were, how there were possibilities with you.
He never had that before.
And as you melted into his kiss, giving back everything he was giving you, he knew that at the end of the day you were his. Not Hoseok’s.
DECEMBER 3RD | 14:09
Rkive, just like Namjoon’s penthouse, was becoming a second and third home to you, with how much time you had been spending in both places. Initially you had been a little hesitant in coming over to the Cypher building, not wanting to intrude or to be on the way of his work. But Namjoon always insisted that your presence calmed him, so you came over every time.
That Friday afternoon wasn’t any different. The moment he was texting you to come over after class, you were agreeing.
Which is how you found yourself sitting on the small space between his couch and wood coffee table, with papers and coloring pencils scattered in front of you. It wasn’t the Nakashima he had bought yet, which is why he wasn’t complaining about the risk of scratching it.
You were doing your university work, and Namjoon was across from you. He had heavy headphones over one of his ears –so he could still hear you, should you need him– and would sing the lyrics out loud every now and then.
He might not be the best singer, but his words were deep and heartfelt, and grabbed your attention each time. You were about to compliment them on it when your phone buzzed on your lap.
Taetae [14:10]:It’s throwback night at Burn. Who’s down?
JK [14:10]: I have boxing class in the morning
Minie [14:12]:I’m going out with Yoonie tonight
Taetae [14:12]:Yn? cmon don’t leave me hanging
You [14:13]: Who else is coming? Can I bring Joon?
Taetae [14:13]:Some friends from class, sure you can bring the bodyguard.
You [14:14]: Be nice!
You closed your phone after texting your friends’ group chat and turned to Namjoon. He was scribbling quickly onto a piece of paper with a pen in the shape of a cactus, so you waited for him to be done.
“Joonie.”
At the sound of your voice he was turning around on his chair. “Yeah, baby?”
“Wanna go out tonight? We are going to a club.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t.” he pushed the headphones off his head to rest on his shoulders. “I have this boring business dinner later.”
“Okay then.”
“Why don’t you come over and stay with Monie?” he countered, pushing back against his flexible chair to stretch his long limbs. “So I’ll have a reason to rush home after dinner.”
The old lady in you wanted to agree to that, but you hadn’t gone out to a club in so long; plus Tae’s crowd was usually really fun.
“I already told Tae I’d go with him.” you pouted.
The chair creaked with the harsh movement as Namjoon asked: “Taehyung? Is it only you two? Will his boyfriend be there? Or Jimin?”
You giggled at all of his questions, picking up a green coloring pencil to fix a spot on your sketch. “Jimin is going out with Yoongi. Funny that he doesn’t need to be at that boring work dinner.”
“That’s my part of the job.”
“And Jk has boxing practice tomorrow.”
“So it’s just you and Taehyung?” he pushed. And, frankly, you didn’t like his tone.
“Problem?”
Yeah. “No, of course not. You have every right to do whatever you want.”
Namjoon was absolutely right, you did have every right to do what you pleased. But you didn’t like his borderline challenging tone. It would have been so much easier if he told you it would bother him if you were going to a club with Taehyung. Then you could assure him that more of his friends would be going, and that he had no reason to worry.
But the way he said it made you want to act out on purpose. If he was so bothered about the possibilities of something happening between you and Taehyung, then he should do something about it. But so far he hasn’t.
You turned your focus to your work, changing colors and drawing away, all while you could feel Namjoon’s gaze boring into you. If he was about to say something else, he was cut off by the knocking on his door.
“Can you get that?” he asked you, since you were closer.
“Yes, sir.”
You crawled the couple meters to the door, not bothering to get up as you pulled down the doorknob to open the studio to whoever it was that was visiting Rkive.
“Already on your knees for me?” Hoseok was laughing as he saw you there in that position.
“Hi, Hobito.” you smiled brightly, accepting his hand to help you up and pull you into a tight hug. “Come in.”
“I’m not interrupting anything, right?”
He wanted to make sure, since Namjoon’s jaw was clenched and he looked a little annoyed. But you were shaking your head as you walked back to your spot by the center table.
“And how’s my favorite little stylist?” Hoseok sat down on the couch behind you, watching you draw away over your shoulder.
You giggled in response, and if you were just a little sweeter, no one said anything. “I’m good.”
“That’s not for Seokjin hyung, right? Not that I don’t think he can pull off a dress.”
“No, that’s for the exposition at her university at the end of the month.” Namjoon told him in a matter of factly tone, as if him having that knowledge gave him Yn points.
And Hoseok noticed it too, so he ignored his friend.
“Are you excited for next week?” he asked while pressing the back of your neck in a massage that made you close your eyes.
“I’m buzzing! Very nervous too, but good nervous, I think.”
For the past week you had been working on finding, choosing and buying –with Cypher’s company card– the pieces you thought would look cool and match Seokjin and the music video for his new single.
The actual filming was happening next week, and you were super excited to be a part of it. Even more since Jungkook would be there working too.
“Are you going to the business dinner too, Hobi?” you asked while turning around to face him, chin resting on his knee. “I’m going to a club tonight, if you wanna join."
Namjoon was watching the bittersweet exchange. On one hand it warmed his heart to see you so close to his best friend. On the other, he wondered just how or when you had gotten so close to him in the first place.
He wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with you and his hyung, but right now he was feeling a little left out.
"Sorry, pretty girl. Next time though, yeah?” Hoseok pinched the tip of your nose, making you scrunch it cutely. “Got a date tonight.”
“With that girl you were telling me about? The one with the nice tits?” you did your best not to cringe at your words, wondering if it was obvious you were trying to appease your audience. Hoseok laughed, but nodded. “Well, if you get bored or want to bring her, we’ll be at Burn in Itaewon."
"Noted."
Namjoon’s chair creaked again, on purpose this time; his way of getting attention.
"Do you actually need anything, hyung?"
"Nah, Yoongi said you had the pretty girl in the studio and I came to say hi."
"Hi.” you giggled, batting your pretty eyes at the hyung.
“Well, you said hi, now I need to work, please."
Hoseok and you exchanged amused glances and the man left a kiss to the top of your head before getting up.
"Good luck with your date tonight!"
"Thanks, you too.” he teased on his way out the door. “Bye, Joonah.”
Namjoon seemed to visibly relax when it was just the two of you in the room again. But instead of going back to work like he said, Namjoon got up and walked the few steps to reach the couch.
You turned around to get back to your work, pretending to think really hard about which colors you’d use next.
“How’s the inspiration going, little one?”
It was more than unfair the way he managed to melt you with simple words and a soft tone. It didn’t help that you understood his past traumas and his reasons for jealousy, but at least you could see he was trying to break out of them.
“Really good.”
“Yeah?” his hands were on your shoulders as he tried to see better.
“I guess your studio is really inspiring.” you leaned back against the edge of the couch, between his legs.
“I’m glad to hear that. You’re welcome here at any time.”
Namjoon pressed on your shoulders, wanting to relieve some of the tension he could feel under his fingertips. He nosed at your hair, smelling your strawberry and lily shampoo. He was ready to ask you if you’d like him to come meet you at the club after the dinner, since it wasn’t supposed to last that long anyway, when the beeping at his door made him pause.
Not many people knew his code, one he had been meaning to change for a couple months now, but it always slipped his mind. He just hoped to God it wasn’t–
“God, I thought Hoseok would never leave.”
Aecha was opening Namjoon’s studio door without knocking, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. All of the calm he had managed to install within you flew out that same door. The woman was clearly very surprised to see you there too.
“What are you doing here?” you asked before you could check yourself.
“I work here.” she said, delighted with your surprise. And to put the nail on the coffin, she repeated your own words from before: “You’re the one who keeps showing up.”
“What to you want, Ms. Lee?”
Namjoon asked her, and you had never heard him sounding so cold. It wasn’t enough to calm your racing heart or your trembling hands as you picked up your spread coloring pencils and papers.
“I have this contract for you to look over, Mr. Kim.” the jaunty way in which she said the words was annoyingly suggestive. “And I have to say, this studio used to be better frequented.”
“Who I have inside my studio is my problem, don’t forget that I’m still your boss.”
Namjoon was standing up now, trying to block you from her view.
“Okay, Mr. Boss Man.” Aecha pressed the folder she was holding into his chest. “I’ll see you tonight at dinner.”
The woman left, and with her went the air from your lungs. Namjoon was breathing heavily, as if to calm himself, and you finished shoving your things inside your backpack in a rushed and careless manner.
“I’m sorry about– Where are you going?”
“You hired your ex?” was all you said.
You wanted to follow it up with: After all she’s done to you? After all she continues to do to you? After telling me there was nothing there? How was he expecting to heal from her abuse and mind games if he was seeing her everyday?
“It’s more complicated than that.” Namjoon sighed.
“And you’re going to dinner with her tonight?”
“It’s not dinner with her, there will be more people there.”
He tried to make it make sense to you, and you might understand it if you let him get two sentences in.
“She’s your ex isn’t that against some kind of corporate rule?”
“At least I’m not going to a club with her.”
It slipped out before Namjoon could hold back the words. But when he felt cornered, he ended up saying things he didn’t mean. And he desperately wanted to take the spotlight off of him.
“Is that how you want to be?” you asked, defensive.
“You started it.” he said it like a child who ran out of comebacks.
“Yeah, and I’m also ending it.” you picked up your backpack and slung it over your shoulder. “Goodbye, Namjoon.”
You passed by him, bumping your shoulder into his as you reached for the door. Namjoon wanted to go after you, make you listen, talk it through. But you were both hot headed right now, both had enough on your plates. It wouldn’t do either of you any good to continue this right now.
DECEMBER 3RD | 22:12
Taehyung was usually surrounded by a big group of people. And if he didn’t go somewhere with an ensemble, he met them while waiting in line, on the dance floor, by the bar; once you even saw him leaving a club bathroom with a new best friend! In your years of friendship you had met so many new people through and because of him.
And they were always a little weird, but so much fun.
You usually liked to hop from group to group with him, laughing at his clownery and weird antics that just made him who he was.
But not tonight.
You were feeling a little left out. The whole thing with Joon and Aecha had hours to sink in with you and it could have gone one of two ways:
- You could be understanding, as you always were, and call him to make sure things were okay between you. Let him explain, or at least make up excuses. Could let it slide that he was always acting a little jealous when it came to you and other boys, but the second you turned it on him, he acted out.
- You could get over the fact that you weren’t together, not by a long shot; partially through a fault of your own, since you had decided not to confess. You were still in a Sugar Baby/Sugar Daddy arrangement that made you both free to do whatever you wanted. You could go to a club with your ex, and he could go to dinner with his, hire her to work alongside him, give her the password to his studio, and not tell you anything about it.
It was safe to say you had gone with the second option, accepting the feminine urge to act a little petty. As you stumbled into the club after waiting too long out in the cold, already regretting having drank half a bottle of Soju during the pregame at Sohee’s place, you grabbed Taehyung by his arm, pulling him closer to you.
“Tae, will you stay with me tonight?” you were saying to his ear, lips ghosting his tanned skin to be heard over the blaring music.
“Of course.” he agreed with a smile, arm instantly finding your waist. He threw a look over his shoulder as he regarded two girls he had met in the line to get in. “You heard her, ladies.”
Both girls pouted and groaned, and you giggled. You could have told them you weren’t asking for a hookup, could have said you just needed your friend to look after you and then send you home safely whenever you grew tired. Then he would be free to go home with whoever he liked.
But you needed to feel like a priority, at least for a few hours, so you liked the way Taehyung didn’t even think twice about accepting your request and focusing his attention on you.
“We’re going to get a drink, you coming?” Wooshik, one of Tae’s classmates and close friend, called for you.
“You’re offering?” you asked as you were led to the bar by the man stuck to your back.
“If he isn’t, I will.” Taehyung was saying with his lips to your ear, much like you had done.
“Aww, you don’t have to pay for me, Tae.”
“Why do you say that to him, but always make me pay?” Wooshik was looking a little offended.
“Don’t pretend you aren’t loaded, hyung.” Tae laughed, the rumbling of his chest warming up your heart.
Minsu and Sohee were already slipping to the dance floor; you knew the girls from passing, both art students like Tae and Wooshik, and you vaguely recollected a comment about them working at a tattoo shop in Myeongdong. Seojoon and Hyungsik were seniors in the performing arts course.
You leaned over the counter of the bar, as the only girl remaining in the small group, it was usually easier for you to catch the attention of the barman. On a good day it would annoy you and you’d refuse to be part of the disgusting men agenda, but you could already feel the effects of the Soju running out.
“Two shots of tequila, please!”
You ordered first, having all three boys shouting their orders before the guy could walk too far.
“You okay, babe?” Taehyung asked you, arm still on your waist.
If this was happening a month ago you would have melted, but right now you just missed the extra weight around you.
“Yeah, I’m great.” you forced a smile on your red colored lips. “Why?”
“Don’t lie to me.” Tae said as you turned around in his embrace, back resting against the bar counter as his body leaned closer to your as more patrons crowded the bar. “You only drink tequila when you want to forget or fuck it up.”
“You think you know me so well, don’t you?” your fingertip traced the ugly colorful patterns on his shirt. It was an eyesore, but somehow he made it work.
“I know you more than you think.” he left a kiss on your forehead. This was your friend Tae, not your ex, not your occasional hook up. “Where’s the bodyguard? Didn’t want to come?”
You shook your head, not really in the mood to talk about Namjoon. Tae pinched your cheek and gave you a tight hug, only letting go of you when the busy bartender came back with your drinks.
The two shots of tequila turned into four, that turned into sips and chugs of whatever the other boys were drinking and offered to you. When you were positively buzzing, brain a little foggy and your legs threatened to give out, you pulled Tae by the collar and said:
“I’m gonna go dance with the girls, yeah?”
“Don’t you wanna have some water first?” he countered, but you shook your head. “Stay in my line of sight.”
“Okay, dad!”
It should have been a joke. You should have laughed at it, just as he had. But it only brought a bitter taste to your mouth and a pang to your stomach. You walked away from a smiley Tae, balancing yourself on your heels and bumping into people more intoxicated than you were.
Minsu and Sohee opened up space for you to dance closer to them and away from any dingy strangers. The dance floor was packed with sweaty bodies, the DJ was playing throwback songs all night, the kind that everybody knew the moves to; like PSY’s Gangnam Style and Super Junior’s Sorry Sorry.
As Gee played loudly from the many speakers spread around, you moved your body to the upbeat song. You felt light and airy, thanks to the alcohol you had consumed. You thought that drinking tonight would help you forget, but all it was doing was making you miss the one person you didn’t want to think about tonight.
The thump of the bass brought back memories from when you met Namjoon, months ago, in a setting similar to this. It was just supposed to be a one time thing; you’d be a Sugar Baby for the night, use the earned money to pay for the first month of your university’s fee and move on.
Yet here you were, tangled up, body and soul belonging to a man you hadn’t decided if deserved it or not. As you closed your eyes and threw your head back to the song, it was Namjoon’s beautiful face and adorable dimpled smile that you saw. When you opened them back up, you searched for him in every tall man in the room. You looked at the door, drunk brain wishing to see him walking in.
But of course he never did.
“Hey, what’s up with you and Tae?” Minsu was asking you. You always thought she had a crush on the man.
“We’re friends.” you told her, slightly slurred speech. “Why?”
“You’re friends like he and Jungkook are?” Sohee laughed.
“He doesn’t have eyes for anything else when you’re around.” Minsu explained.
You looked around, finding Taehyung still by the bar. He had a glass in his hand, but his eyes were on you. You did ask him to take care of you tonight, so he was only looking out for you. At least that’s what you thought until his eyebrow raised and he licked his lips.
Well. Since forgetting on your own obviously wasn’t working, maybe you should try it with a little help.
A giggle slipped past your lips as your pointer finger beaconed him over. Taehyung flipped the rest of his drink into his mouth, pulling an exaggerated face, and marched over to you in the rhythm of Rain’s Rainism.
Tae bumped into you on purpose, making you lose your balance and hold yourself by clinging to his shoulders as he held you strongly by arms around your waist. You were laughing, but stopped short when his face went to your neck and he licked a stripe of your sweaty skin.
Your hand tangled in his long curly locks, pulling him back so you could clash your lips against his. It was rare that you started a kiss, but tonight you needed it. Taehyung reciprocated it with fervor and a little desperation, always greedy for whatever you were willing to give him.
DECEMBER 4RTH | 02:01
Namjoon couldn’t sleep. Guilt had been eating him up all night, so he had given up on trying to fall into a slumber when the clock hit midnight and he was accomplishing nothing but tossing and turning in his cold and empty mattress.
The business dinner had been annoying, with the way Aecha forced herself into the seat next to him and kept attempting to hold his hand, to touch his thigh under the table, and being overall obnoxiously sweet in an attempt to butter him up. In the past that would have been enough to have them rolling in the sheets by the end of the night, and after they were done, she wouldn’t even wait for the morning to break his heart all over again.
But tonight all it made him feel was disgust and anger. It was supposed to be a professional setting, one where he should be talking business with investors, telling them about the growth Cypher had the last six months and talking about future plans.
Not to mention that, if it wasn’t for the woman, he would still know where you and him stood. You wouldn’t be upset and he wouldn’t be worried about you being out there in a club. It’s not even that he was bothered by you being out with Taehyung either, Namjoon was mature enough to understand you didn’t technically owe him anything. He had given up the exclusivity when he put his plans of confessing to you on the back burner.
A decision he was starting to regret.
The thing that was staining his thoughts with guilt is that he knew this could have been avoided. Namjoon could have told you about Aecha having to work for Cypher Prod., explained it wasn’t something he actually had a say in, he could have remembered to change the password to avoid her just barging in, he could have defended you better, he could have told you she would be part of the dinner tonight because taking notes was part of her job.
Namjoon knew how this all looked, so he didn’t blame you for walking out of his studio, nor for anything you might choose to do tonight.
He was sitting in bed, with his latest book on his lap, reading the same page over and over again because he couldn’t concentrate, when his phone dinged with your notification sound.
You [02:03]: I hate you ;((((((
You [02:03]: You knwo I was dncing wth tae and we were kissing bc I CAN and you were hving dinner wit your gorgus ex
You [02:04]: But I cant stop fckijg thinkng about you 1!!11!!! Why!!!!!! I jus want you
You [02:04]: Ugh wish u were here to fck me in the bathroom
You were clearly drunk in your texts, never one to leave any typos in. Not to mention the context of the messages. It was rollercoaster of informations, since the knowledge that you had kissed Taehyung again brought an uncomfortable clench to his heart. Yet the way you ended the shower of texts saying he was the one you actually wanted helped alleviate his jealousy.
But the texts continued:
You [02:06]: Why cant things be easy joonie why
You [02:06]: Ugh i wont even rember this in the mrng lol
You [02:06]: Opsie I cnt find my friends
You [02:07]: Theres a guy loking over maybe he saw my frinds
With a worried sigh, Namjoon left his bed. He was already texting his driver, uncaring for the late hour, as he looked for sweatpants and a hoodie to wear. Picking up his wallet on the way out, he was satisfied that Mr. Choi answered almost immediately saying he’d be coming over and would arrive in five minutes.
The man would definitely be getting a hefty Christmas bonus.
Namjoon wouldn’t be going after you if he didn’t think you could potentially be in some kind of danger, and texting or calling you to make sure didn’t sound like the best idea either.
Exactly five minutes later, Namjoon was slipping in the backseat of his car, telling Mr. Choi to drive to Burn Nightclub in Itaewon.
“Forgive me for the intrusion, sir, but you don’t look dressed for a night out.”
Namjoon chuckled, because he agreed. Gray sweatpants and a mismatched hoodie didn’t scream party-goer.
“We’re just picking someone up.”
“Is it your lady friend?” the nice old man looked at Namjoon through the rearview mirror, with a friendly, albeit sleepy, smile. “Miss Yn?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” the driver was saying as he followed the car GPS towards their destination. “I like that girl. She’s very nice.”
“That she is, Mr. Choi.” Namjoon kept checking his phone, but you didn’t send anything else.
He didn’t want to think about the possibility of you not being at that club anymore. Or even at all, in case your plans had changed earlier in the night and you ended up going somewhere else entirely.
“Can I offer you a piece of free advice?” the driver asked and Namjoon hummed in response. “You should keep her. She’s a nice girl. I know this isn’t my place but I’ve been driving for you for many years and I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“Even if you have to get out of bed at two am to go pick her up?” he laughed with slight amusement.
“Miss Yn always treated me with kindness. Did you know she always has coffee and pastries for me when I’m sent to pick her up for you?” Mr. Choi told him, and Namjoon had no idea. “That other lady you almost married didn’t even look me in the eye. So I don’t mind the late drive.”
Namjoon hummed, mind filled with thoughts of you.
The streets were almost empty, even in the Itaewon district. Mr. Choi found a free spot to park and turned the hazard lights on to inform other drivers that he wouldn’t stay there long. Namjoon was rushing off the car and into the night club.
He received weird looks for his attire, but pulling on the sleeve of his hoodie to look at the time while simultaneously flashing his Rolex seemed to do the trick. He was let into Burn after paying an absurdly high fee.
The inside of the club didn’t match the outside. While the streets were cold and barren, the inside was warm and busy. Drunk people everywhere, having the time of their lives, dancing as if there was no tomorrow. His height allowed him to see above most people as he scanned the dance floor in hopes to find you there.
Namjoon wasn’t having much luck, until a tap to his shoulder made him turn around.
“So you did show up, huh?” Taehyung had a blonde girl under his arm, both with red bitten lips that made it obvious what they had been doing. “She’s been asking for you. Come.”
Namjoon didn’t say anything as he followed Taehyung past the dance floor and the bar, eyes scanning the sitting area for you. He found you easily once he knew where to look, sitting between two girls, and with a jacket too big to be yours draped over your shoulders. Your eyes were sparkling and you looked so sad.
“How’s the sweet girl doing?” Taehyung asked the girls.
“She’s been asking for her dad?” the one with colorful hair looked confused as can be.
Namjoon held back a laugh, knowing exactly who you had been asking for. He watched as Taehyung let go of the blonde girl to crouch down in front of you, a hand caressing your face with more gentleness than he expected. The boy was saying something to you and your face lifted, gaze lost until it found him.
You were getting up from the couch, letting the jacket fall off your shoulders, as you walked to Namjoon. He opened his arms for you, not letting you see the twist of his nose with the heavy scent of alcohol and smoke that was stuck to your skin and clothes.
“Are you really here?” you murmured against his chest, his ears straining to hear you.
“Yeah. Let’s get you home.”
“Nooooo, I don’t want to go.” you pouted, but squeezed him harder.
“I’m not asking you, baby.”
Namjoon hadn’t seen you drunk that many times, but the little instances that he did, he picked up a thing or two about how to deal with you. Your pouty and bratty side came out to play, one he knew how to handle.
“Say goodbye to your friends and let’s go.” Namjoon instructed. “Mr. Choi is waiting outside.”
“In the cold?” your pretty eyes blinked with concern, a deep crease forming on your forehead.
“He’s warm in the car.” he told you, watching you nod and wave to the people you had come with. “Where’s your coat?”
“Didn’t bring one.” you shrugged exaggeratedly.
It was minus three degrees outside and you were dressed in a short, sleeveless dress. Namjoon wanted to nag you for being so careless, but now was not the time. Instead, he removed his hoodie and dressed you with it, ignoring the ‘whoops’ and ‘wows’ he heard while revealing his tight cotton t-shirt. He wouldn’t mind the cold as long as you were warm.
“Tell her to text when she’s home.” Taehyung asked.
But Namjoon didn’t answer. You’d have more pending matters once you arrived home; like sobering up, for starters. He held you closely against his body, pulling your tumbling body out of the club and onto the streets.
Mr. Choi had moved the car closer to the entrance of the club, so the two of you were able to slip to the back seat before either of you froze in the cold weather.
“Good morning, Miss Yn.” Mr. Choi was saying with a smile.
“Hi.” you waved with heavily blinking eyes.
“Where to, sir?”
“Bring us to the penthouse. After you drop us off you can keep the car over the weekend, and we’ll see you again on monday.” Namjoon instructed. “Take the family for a ride.”
“There’s no need for that, sir–”
“I insist.”
The driver thanked him with a nod and got back onto the street to drive the two of you home. As Namjoon looked you over, he noticed your tightly crossed arms and pushed out bottom lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m still mad at you.” you were saying with half slitted eyes.
“Good, because I’m mad at you too.”
You gasped and stared at him in absolute shock. High pitched voice as you said: “What are you mad at me for?!”
“Going out without proper winter clothes? Getting lost from your friends and worrying me? Hooking up with your ex?”
Quietly, as the car stopped at a red light, Mr. Choi turned around to pull the flimsy curtain that separated the front seats from the back of the car to give you the false impression of privacy.
“Well, I wouldn’t need to hook up with my ex if you had been there!”
“You know I couldn’t be there.”
“Yeah, because you were with your ex!”
Namjoon took a deep breath, he knew this was pointless. Your words were slurring together and you wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. He had apologies ready to offer you, but he wouldn’t waste them on deaf ears.
The car fell into a deep silence that felt like ages, but it couldn’t have been five minutes until you spoke again. Softer this time.
“For the record, I don’t want Tae.”
“I don’t want Aecha either.”
Another beat of silence passed until you turned sideways on the seat, pout heavy on your lips.
“Then prove it.” you challenged.
You were trying to seem so serious, so menacing. But Namjoon just thought you looked adorable. Red cheeks, sleepy eyes, wobbly bottom lip. You might just be the cutest thing he had ever seen. A little sparkle around your neck brought his eyes down, noticing the necklace he had given you in New York was still resting on your collarbone.
Even while mad at him, you never took it off.
“How do I prove it, baby?”
You tapped your chin, thinking hard about your options. “Fuck me right here, right now.”
Mr. Choi started coughing from the front seat and Namjoon went absolutely red in the face. You didn’t waver, a challenging lift to your eyebrow.
“I can’t do that right now.” Namjoon tried reasoning with you. “Let’s get home and we’ll talk about it, yeah?”
“I knew it.”
You turned away from him again, your side profile being illuminated by the warm yellow lights from the lamp posts outside. You were so beautiful to him, so precious. Even without knowing it, you gave him the push he needed to want to fix himself, to be a better man. Firstly, you made him want to be better for him. You were showing him how he deserved to be treated, the kind of happiness he should strive to have.
But you also made him want to be better for you.
Namjoon didn’t want you to be mad at him, rightfully so or not. He also couldn’t give you what you wanted right now, not with Mr. Choi in the car. But he could try something.
He slid closer to you, pushing your hair away from your neck. You didn’t move, still ignoring him. Namjoon bent down to reach the side of your face, kissing your jaw, under your ear, moving down to your neck. His hand rested on your naked leg, fingertips dancing on the inside of your thigh.
Your breathing grew heavy, lips parting with a pant as you melted into the seat.
“Don’t be like this, babygirl.” he said against your warm skin, lips sucking on the spot under your ear.
“Please–”
“Shhhh. Be quiet for daddy.”
He was whispering, hand slipping between your legs and under your dress. You covered your red stained lips with small hands, parting your knees for him. Namjoon gently ran his fingertips over your clothed core, applying light pressure.
"When we get home, I’ll take care of you."
"Promise?” you whispered.
“Did daddy ever lie to you?"
You were shaking your head. Namjoon had never lied to you. He might have omitted a few things, but never lie.
The view outside showed the car was already driving up his street, the speed decreasing to a stop. Namjoon pressed harder over your clit just to tease you a little more before removing his hand completely.
"Ern… Sir, Miss.” Mr. Choi called, a little chocked up. “You’re home.”
“Thanks. Have a good weekend, okay? Get home safe."
Namjoon opened your door from the inside, tapping on your legs for you to get out of the car and followed after you. You were still a little wobbly walking up the steps to the lobby, but Namjoon held you steady.
The moment the doors to the elevators were closing, you were all over him. Uncaring for the cameras you started kissing his neck and grabbing for his shirt before he could even press the button to the penthouse.
He laughed while holding your hands to your back, halting your attack.
"You promised!” the little horny drunk that you were protested.
“Yes I did, but we’re not home yet, are we?"
You seemed to think hard about that, looking around yourself and finally calming down.
When Namjoon unlocked the door with his thumbprint, you were already trying to climb him like a tree again. He had to laugh at your desperation and clumsiness, almost tripping over an excited Monie and eyes filling with tears when you thought you might have hurt him.
Namjoon started leading you to his bedroom, returning your kisses as best as he could while trying to walk you into the bathroom. He was on his knees as soon as the door closed behind you, kissing the tops of your thighs as he undid the clasps of your shoes from your ankles.
You groaned in relief as your aching feet rested flat on the cold floor, busying yourself with removing his hoodie and letting your purse fall to the floor with a careless thump.
Namjoon was kissing your neck as his able hands looked for the zipper on your back to remove your dress.
Your panties and strapless bra went right after.
He had you so focused on his hands and kisses that you didn’t notice he was walking you backwards into the shower. Nor did you realize Namjoon flipped on the knob to turn the water on, pulling away at the last second to avoid getting hit while he still had his clothes on.
You squealed with the cold temperature of the water hitting your body. As you tried to escape and flee the shower stall, Namjoon held the glass door in place.
"Joon!” you whined your displeasure. “You promised!”
“I promised I would take care of you, and I am!” he held back a laugh. “I’m not fucking you until you’re sober, baby.”
“You’re no fun, drunk sex is great.” you crossed your arms and Namjoon had to look away from the way your tits were pressed together.
And he had to agree, drunk sex was a lot of fun. But not when you still had issues to talk through.
“Just have a cold shower and come meet me in the kitchen when you feel a little more sober.”
“Have I told you I hate you?” you asked with yet another pretty pout.
“At least twice now.”
Namjoon gave you a pointed look when he let go of the shower door, holding back a fond smile from how annoyed you looked. You showed him your tongue like a child and he laughed.
DECEMBER 4RTH | 03:59
Raiding Namjoon’s closet for a shirt sounded like a better idea than going into your room in the penthouse to find something to wear. You didn’t feel completely like yourself yet, but your head was in the right place. Enough for you to be extremely embarrassed about your earlier behavior.
As you walked into the kitchen, per Namjoon’s request, you weren’t sure what you were going to find. He had every right to be mad at you, he had left the comfort of his home in the middle of the night to pick up a brat from a club across town because you missed him but was too hard headed to admit it. Not to mention everything else.
But what greeted you was a dimpled smile and a glass of water.
“Feeling better?”
“I’ll tell you in the morning.” you laughed without any real humor, taking long sips of the first drink you had tonight that didn’t burn on the way down. “What’s that?”
“Toast and cheese.”
Namjoon pushed the plate towards you as you sat down on a stall by the kitchen island.
“You cooked for me.” your smile was sincere and bright, as his cheeks turned pink. “Like, you actually cooked.”
“That is hardly a Michelin.”
“It’s better, because you made it.”
You looked down as you said it, picking up the toast and taking a small bite to the corner. You did feel a little hungry, and this would definitely help with your inescapable hangover tomorrow. But chucking it in at once would only make you sick. And you were really good at holding your liquor, but today wasn’t the night you wanted to test that.
Namjoon crossed the island to come closer to you. He pulled your wet hair back so it wouldn’t fall on your plate and kissed the crown of your head before sitting down next to you. You were eating slowly as he watched you intently. His finger slipped under the chain around your neck to lift it from the inside of your shirt –his shirt–, so now the diamond heart would be on show.
“We should talk.” at least he had the decency to wait for you to swallow your last bite.
After washing down the food with the rest of the water you said, in a small voice: “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? I’m the one who needs to apologize.” Namjoon’s forehead creased.
“You can, just let me say something first?” you turned around on the bench so you could look at him as you spoke. “It’s not fair that I get upset with you about something, and then go ahead and do the exact thing.” you sighed, playing with your fingers on your lap. “I know we’re not together, this is just an arrangement. You have every right to
