Coming out of his Mercedes-Benz s-class, Kim Nam-joon spots Kim Seokjin. Likewise, Kim Seokjin saw Namjoon.
On their from the airport, Jin decided to eliminate the eerie silence by engaging in a conversation but couldn't think of anything.
As they drove up to the luxurious villa, Jin couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart. He had been looking forward to seeing Namjoon all week, and the fact that his friend had come to pick him up personally made him feel special.
"Thanks for coming to get me, Namjoon," Jin said, trying to sound casual despite his excitement.
Namjoon smiled and replied, "No problem, Hyung. I was in the area anyway."
But little did Jin know, Namjoon had only offered to pick him up because J-Hope had asked him to return a favor.
As they stepped out of the car, Jin turned to Namjoon and said, "I was thinking, since we're both free today, maybe we could grab lunch together? Just the two of us?"
Namjoon hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to Jin. "Ah, I don't know, Hyung. I have some things I need to take care of later."
Jin's face fell, but he tried to brush it off. "No worries, I understand."
But when they entered the villa's living room, J-Hope greeted them with a cheerful "Thanks for picking up Jin, Namjoon! I owe you one!"
Jin's heart sank as he realized the truth. He felt a pang of disappointment and wondered if their friendship was truly genuine or just a series of favors and obligations.
V, who was sitting on the couch, noticed Jin's expression and raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay, Jin?"
Jin forced a smile and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine."
10 years ago...
Young Namjoon's heart raced as he clutched the 99 roses, his hands trembling with anticipation. He had mustered the courage to confess his feelings to Eunbi, his high school crush. As he turned the corner, he spotted her, and his heart skipped a beat. But before he could approach her, a menacing figure emerged from the shadows, gun raised.
Eunbi's eyes widened in horror as she sprinted towards Namjoon, waving her arms and shouting. Namjoon's heart fluttered, thinking she was eager to meet him. But as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close, he realized her intentions were far more selfless.
In that fleeting moment, as the gun fired, Eunbi's warm smile was etched in Namjoon's memory forever. Her voice whispered in his mind, "Keep smiling, silly boy... I'll be sad if the smile fades... just... keep smiling."
The world around him melted away as Namjoon's vision faded to black. The sound of Eunbi's voice, the feel of her embrace, and the scent of the roses were forever seared into his consciousness.
When Namjoon finally regained his senses, he was met with an eerie silence. Eunbi's lifeless body lay before him, her smile frozen in time. The roses, once a symbol of love and hope, now scattered around them, their beauty lost amidst the tragedy.
The memory of that fateful day haunted Namjoon, a constant reminder of the transience of life and the cruelty of fate. Even a decade later, the pain lingered, a wound that refused to heal. The smile he wore was a mask, a tribute to Eunbi's final words, but deep down, the sorrow still lingered, a heart forever lost in the memories of what could have been.
Namjoon's gaze drifted back to the present, his eyes locking onto Jung Hoseok's concerned expression. "Nothing," he forced a smile, trying to brush off the lingering memories.
But Taehyung, ever the perceptive one, noticed the faint stiffness in Namjoon's smile. He subtly shook his head, a silent signal to the others.
Jin, Yoon-gi, Jimin, and Jungkook exchanged knowing glances, their faces filled with empathy. They'd seen this before ā the far-off stare, the forced smile, the guilt-ridden eyes.
"Hyung, it's not your fault," Jung Hoseok said, his voice gentle but firm.
But Namjoon's expression only darkened, his eyes clouding over like a stormy sky. The more they tried to reassure him, the more he felt the weight of his past mistakes bearing down on him.
"If only I had..." he trailed off, his voice barely audible.
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. They knew better than to push him further, to pry open the Pandora's box of his memories. For now, they simply stood by him, a united front of support and understanding.
Kim Namjoon's eyes snapped back into focus, his mind racing with the reason they'd all gathered here. He cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.
"Let's get down to business," he said, leading them to the study.
With a flick of his wrist, he scattered documents across the table, revealing surveillance photos and intel reports.
"Meet Jihwan, a notorious crime boss who's been making waves in our territory," Namjoon briefed them, his tone crisp and authoritative.
Jung Hoseok's eyes narrowed. "What's his game?"
"He's been encroaching on our business, testing our boundaries," Namjoon replied, his jaw clenched. "We've tolerated him so far, but he's pushing his luck."
Min Yoongi spoke up, his voice low and even. "He's either very brave or very stupid."
Namjoon's gaze swept across the room, meeting each member's eyes. "We need to send a message. He needs to know we won't be disrespected."
Park Jimin leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with interest. "What's the plan, Namjoon?"
Namjoon's smile was thin and calculated. "We'll start by gathering more intel. Kim Taehyung, can you hack into his operations?"
Taehyung nodded, his fingers already flying across his phone's keyboard.
"Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, I want you to dig up his connections, see who's backing him," Namjoon continued.
Jung Hoseok cracked his knuckles. "And I'll prepare a little welcome package for our friend Jihwan."
Jeon Jungkook simply grinned, ready for action.
The room hummed with anticipation, the air thick with the promise of action.