1

A man around his early 20s walked down the congested streets of Korea and halted his tracks right in front of a restaurant. He opened the door and the lively chattering filled the place with the clinking of shot glasses and the sizzling of meat.

"Ah! Jungkook hyung! Here!" A guy gestured him to the table they were sitting at.

"Did I make you guys wait?" He laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his neck.

"No, not at all sunbae!"

[ Sunbae : typically means senior. ]

They all sat at the table and began pouring each other drinks.

"Sunbae, what's your ratio today?"

[ ratio (in the text) : the ratio of their drinks that consists the mixing of soju and maegju {Korean alcohol and beer} ]

"7:4, " he chuckled. "Thanks."

He grabbed the glass and chugged the whole thing as if he was parched.

"Is something wrong, sunbae?" The guy asked as everyone was busy downing their drinks. "You look out of it today."

"And you wouldn't come to gatherings like this since you're always occupied."

Jungkook slammed his glass onto the table but no one seemed to pay much mind to it. "It's nothing, I just had a rough day."

"Hmm.. if you say so, sunbae." The guy looked more worried. "But, are you sure?"

Jungkook heaved an exhausted sigh. "I had a fight with Jinah."

"Your girlfriend? When?"

"The night before yesterday." Jungkook said as the guy refilled his glass with beer.

He then chugged another glass before speaking any further. "I'd do anything to make her happy."

"But why did you guys fight?"

"Long story, but I'll shorten it out." He sighed once again. "she didn't tell her parents that I'm her boyfriend yet, and she wasn't planning on telling them any time soon either."

"I asked her the reason, but in the end I mentioned about the guy she always hung out with most of the time and she had him introduced to her family, which, she got mad at and lashed out on me." Jungkook said as he wistfully chuckled. "So here I am."

"Dude. That's messed up, so she would spend most of her time with another guy instead spending it with you?" The guy laughed sardonically. "What person in their right mind would do that in a relationship??"

Jungkook had a wistful smile plastered on his face as he shrugged it off and downed another glass.

"Woah! You should take it easy, sunbae." The guy tried to stop Jungkook from drinking.

"It's alright, I can hold my alcohol." He chuckled and displayed a curved up smile.

"If you say so, sunbae.." The guy sighed as he shook his head in defeat.

It was getting fairly late and everyone was gradually going home one by one.

Jungkook looked at his watch and bid farewell to his classmates as he walked down the peaceful yet slightly bustling streets filled with vibrant neon signs and the lively life of the night in Itaewon.

He sighed, "I've come all the way to Itaewon just to clear my head, but now I don't even know where to go anymore."

Then he spotted a particular bar and his feet precisely did what it was told. His feet took him to the entrance of the bar as the security was not as lax as the other pubs.

It was a gay bar.

Jungkook showed his ID to the guard and went straight in.

There were all sorts of things he saw, for an instance, there were many guys on a pole as they were strip dancing. The waiters were all guys and the people in the bar were friendly and kind.

He finally settled by the counter and asked the bartender for a drink.

"I'll get the most recommended on the menu please." Jungkook smiled.

"Then may I suggest a drink that might suit your taste better than something recommended on the menu?" The bartender chuckled.

"Sure, that would be great."

While the bartender was making his drink, he asked. "Is this your first time here? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"Ah, yes.. It's my first time.. at a gay bar." He let out a chuckle.

"Oh really? I couldn't tell at first glance though." The bartender continued, "then welcome newcomer~"

"Thanks," Jungkook curved up a smile.

"But you're straight, aren't you." The bartender chuckled as Jungkook giggled. "Yes, and how did you know?"

"You really give out straight vibes, you don't look like you're gay and out finding a suitor either."

"You can say that your appearance and the way you act gave it away." The bartender chuckled as gave him his drink. "Devil's tears."

"Thank you." He held the glass as he took a sip and smiled. "It's delicious."

"I'm glad that you like it." The bartender curved up a warm smile, "so what brings a fine young man like you here? A gay bar of all places."

"Ah, I just happen to find my way to this bar."

"But it doesn't seem that it's the only reason you're here." The bartender was wiping a shot glass. "A fight between your lover?"

"That's oddly accurate of you." Jungkook chuckled.

"I'm experienced in this field." The bartender said as he smiled. "I'm Jin."

"Jungkook, nice meeting you."

"Likewise," Jin said. "You're fairly positive about this, I mean, sexuality and gender identities."

"I'm open-minded, what can I say?" He chuckled.

"But there's no option for men is there?" Jin also chuckled as Jungkook continued. "Who knows? I might change my mind one day."

Jin just laughed it off as he shrugged and said, "if one day you finally decided to change your preferences, you'll have to tell me first, alright?"

"On second thought, I'll just keep liking girls, thank you."

"You brat."

Then, a good looking man came and sat on the chair beside me. A refined jawline as only the traces and edges of his facial features could be seen under the bar's dim lighting.

It was ambiguous but the man spoke, "Did you come alone?"

His raspy yet husky voice echoed in Jungkook's ears. A sweet harmonizing yet honey-like voice stuck in his head like glue, only to be mesmerized by only the man's very vocals.

"Ah, no-- I mean yes, I came alone." Jungkook said, fumbling with his glass.

The man then gestured the bartender, "my usual please."

The bartender then placed his drink on the counter. The man held his glass on his right hand as he gently swirled the liquid inside the glass.

His face was finally revealed under the pale lighting, the dim gleam kissed his face ever so lightly.

He took a sip from the glass as his eyes glanced at Jungkook and they locked contact. His sharp gleaming gaze was alluring, lovely rounded eyes glowered with a piercing gape.

"You're handsome, I must say." He glanced back at his glass as he smiled. "You look like you've just turned 21."

"Are you trying to hit on me?" Jungkook softly chuckled, not looking at the guy.

"And what if I am?" The guy swirled his glass once again as he let out a chuckle.

The bartender then spoke, "don't even try, Jimin. Jungkook's straighter than straight, he doesn't even bend that way."

"Jungkook... what a nice name you've got there." Jimin smiled.

"He's got a girlfriend, Jimin." Jin raised his eyebrow.

"And why does that matter?" Jimin chuckled as he looked at him.

"For starters, normal people have only ONE relationship. Unlike someone I know, starting a polyamory, and dump them afterwards."

"Jungkook can't handle your shit."

"You sure?" Jimin smirked as he glanced back at Jungkook.

"He's right, and I'm straight."

"Everyone's that have said that wouldn't be saying that right now." He giggled in a flirtatious manner.

Jungkook then realized, "what am I getting myself into?"