Chapter Text
Taehyung let out a deep breath as he locked his phone. Another message from the landlady that he needs to pay his 2-month rent on the weekend or else they’ll be forced to evict him out. It’s a chilly January Saturday morning and he looked at the unclaimed paintings on the corner of his small flat. Being broke and an expensive college program is not a good combination at all.
After Taehyung wasted his time staring in space, he decided to grab his luggage and accept his fate if he cannot find an income by the weekend to be kicked out of his unit. He was busily stuffing clothes when his phone rang, his best friend Park Jimin was calling. He picked up the phone and a man with platinum hair and puffy cheeks adorned the screen.
“Hello, Tae! What are you gonna do today?” Jimin chirped, voice evident that he just woke up. Tae let out a sigh and showed a better angle of him arranging his stuff in a luggage. “Vacation..?” Jimin stupidly asked.
Taehyung only rolled his eyes in annoyance, “well you think I got enough for a vacation Chim? I’m actually about to be kicked out of this unit because I can’t even afford to pay my 2-month rent.” Taehyung could hear the rustling on the phone, his friend probably stood up from bed.
“I told you you could just move in my unit. I’ve been trying to convince you for four years now, Tae” Jimin said, and it will always be like this. Through the years that he finds himself about to be kicked out his place, Jimin would always offer him to stay in his place instead and Taehyung, of course would always decline but it’s quite different now.
“I’m actually considering, but we’ll see… who knows a million Won might drop from the heavens!” Taehyung answered humorously. “I’d get going now Chim, I still have a shift in the cafe in a while and… thank you. For being my constant.” Taehyung immediately pressed the end button, it’s too early to be sentimental, he thought.
Jimin and Taehyung have been close to the hip since freshman year. The omegas met through the general subjects and despite Jimin being enrolled in Multimedia Arts and Tae on Interior Designing, they found solace and comfort with each other. During Taehyung’s tough times, specifically when his rent is on the edge, Jimin would be kind to offer his place. But that’s the thing about Kim Taehyung, growing up in an orphanage, it has always been his dream to find his own place. Thankfully, getting into a great university, securing himself a scholarship and a few commissions helped him balance his finances but there are tough months, like this one, where his money is not enough to cover his necessities.
Regardless of Taehyung’s unfortunate situation, he walked happily to the nearby cafe dreamily imagining the life he planned for himself. In four months, he’ll be a professional interior designer, he'll secure himself a nice job in a wonderful company, make money for himself and give back to those in need. It has always been like that. It is what kept him going for years since he moved out of the orphanage. He was awoken from his trance when he saw the glass doors of the cafe. Letting out a sigh, I have to cross this bridge first before anything else he thought and so, he opened the doors and greeted his manager Jessi before heading to the dressing room.
Taehyung is stationed in the cashier, taking in orders and payments. He giddily smiles as he remembered Jessi’s words two years ago when he applied “we can’t waste that pretty face of yours! I bet people would literally line up for that face.” Though sometimes, when the cafe has quite a lot of customers, he’ll also assist in serving. It’s a weekend so customers are expected but it’s nothing they can’t handle. He is now helping in stacking the chairs before Jessi and him closes the cafe.
Taehyung couldn’t help eavesdrop when Jessi’s voice echoes through the walls of the place blabbering about how a dancer couldn’t make it because of some stupid emergency. Taehyung shook his head, for the two years he’d known the beta, he is well aware that the latter often takes sideline jobs in high-end bars.
“Fuck it, I can’t believe I’m about to lose a VIP client because of that clumsy beta” Jessi bursted out as soon as the call ended. “This is so fucking frustrating, now I have to find a damn replacement or fly high million Won!” She added as she blew out the smoke.
Taehyung’s eyes quivered upon the mention of that huge amount. Well… “what’s going on?” He can’t help asking, getting the best of him.
“One of my dancers apparently cancelled on an appointment for next Friday and the stupid bitch didn’t even think well, those are VIPs! Who cancels on VIPs?!” She once again screamed out of frustration. “She’d only dance, damn no take outs. Just wiggle her ass in front of the alphas and get some moolah. Now I feel like shit back to square one.”
“Just.. dance, you say?” Taehyung replied, gathering “What’s in for me if I say, I accept?”
“Sixty-forty of the income, and boy, they would pay well. Five million Won for an exclusive bachelor party? No fucking around just a hot performance… who’d say no on that offer!” Taehyung’s eyes felt like gawking out of his sockets when he heard the amount. He quickly calculated in his head and fuck, that amount would definitely save his ass big time. “What, you up for it Tae?” Jessi asked again, with one of her strong eyebrows raised.
“I’d just have to dance right? No fucking?” Tae had to clarify.
“Yes darling, I’ll be there to assist so if you don’t want to be taken out, we’d go home together and sleep on those fucking million Won” Jessi answered happily, hint of hope laced on her voice.
Taehyung took a deep breath, weighed his decision, “Okay, just - just promise me Jessi you won’t leave me there ‘kay?” He pleaded, feline eyes turning into round ones and Jessi giddily clapped her hands.
“Of course Tae! Damn you know I love you and that face for a reason!” Jessi hugged him, heavy chest squished in between as she playfully smacked Tae’s behind, “now work on wiggling that damn ass! It’s gonna feed us for months babe!”
Jessi and him talked more as they cleaned up the cafe. And soon, Taehyung finds himself walking back to his apartment with heavy thoughts occupying his head. Being a 24-year old virgin scares the shit out of his existence to know that he’d have to dance and show some skin to wild alphas in a span of days. But that’s that - he’d only have to dance and entertain them for a while and wallah! Million Won coming through to save his broke ass. Nothing could go wrong. Right?