PLAY ME A LOVE SONG PART 4

 "Hey Jeonggukie!" Kim Namjoon said as he picked up from Hong Kong.

"Hey, boss!" He said as he placed his luggage at the backseat. The airport was definitely crowded as it was a bustling Monday morning. Namjoon looked sharp with his eyeglasses ^ blazer.

He observed his boss's confidence, his boss for five years now. He got inside the car at the same time as he did and the glow in his face was mesmerizing. Hmm. "Namjoon hyung? How are you and Jin hyung?" Jeongguk said as he put on his seatbelt.

Namjoon then looked at his rear view mirror. He looked at the side mirror and merged into the road. He focused driving and when they entered the freeway, he turned his head to Jeongguk. "Why'd you ask?" "I feel something is different." Jeongguk said truthfully.

Namjoon grinned at him. "I was going to let him tell you the good news, well, let me call him instead. "Hello, babe?" Jin answered on the third ring. "Babe?" Jeongguk asked curiously. "Oh, hi Jeonggukie." Jin said. "Yes, me and Namjoon are officially together."

"Finally!" Jeongguk exclaimed. "Finally?" Namjoon looked at him. "Umm nothing, it's just that you look sweet and cozy together." Jeongguk chuckled.

"Uh huh." Jin said with Jeongguk picturing him rolling his eyes. "Anyways, did you hear DJ V read your letter Justin?" Jin laughed loudly. "Wait. What?" Jeongguk eyes widened with surprise. His snail mail was read. "When did he read it?" He asked them both.

Namjoon smiled, "maybe a month ago. Babe? It's a month ago right?" "Yeah. Hey, Jeonggukie, stop being in the Stone age will you and have social media?" Jin said. "Is it truly necessary?" Jeongguk sighed. "Very." Namjoon said. "Why don't you just try one platform first."

"Maybe, start with Instagram." Jin suggested, "then if you can handle the noise, you can add Twitter. You do have email, right?" Jeongguk said, "yeah, I do." "Does Seojoon have social media?" Jin asked. "Yeah, I think he has Instagram." Jeongguk reflected. Yes he does.

"And you are not curious?" Namjoon asked. "Yeah, not so much." Jeongguk shrugged. Why wasn't he interested again? Maybe because his interest with photography halted the moment he broke up with Taehyung. Kim Taehyung, somehow he brought with him the passion he once had.

And truth be told, he was afraid to see Taehyung happy with somebody else, it's something he hasn't prepared his heart for yet. "Anything else?" Jin asked. "I need to work too." Namjoon laughed, "okay babe, see you later." "See ya. Bye Jeonggukie." Jin said before he hung up.

"How was the broadcast? Has anyone recorded it?" Jeongguk asked curiously. "Umm.. heh... I think we forgot to do that but hey DJ V said he agreed writing the chronicles of love. I am meeting him next week actually. Wanna come?" Namjoon asked.

Jeongguk shook his head, "I can't hyung, remember, I am taking the week off?" "Oh, yeah... are you proposing?" Namjoon asked. "No. Just talk, spend time together. I missed him." Jeongguk said. "Going anywhere special?" Namjoon asked. "Just staycation. He doesn't know yet."

"Well. I do have the songs that DJ V played for your letter, say, why not write DJ V and used the form I sent you three months ago instead of snail mail." Namjoon chuckled. "Get out of your comfort zone kid." "Maybe, I will tomorrow." Jeongguk said as they stopped at his place.

"You know you are more than an employee, you are also one of Jin's closest friends and mine as well. Honestly kid, I feel something unsettling and I can't pinpoint what." Namjoon said. "I will be fine, hyung. I will see you tomorrow, okay?" Jeongguk opened the car door.

Jeongguk looked at his apartment wondering if Seojoon was here to surprise him. They don't live together but Seojoon has keys to his apartment and he knew that he's arriving today. Jeongguk opened the door with anticipation in his heart.

They have been together for more than three years now and for sure he was the one who fell in love first. He fell in love because maybe of the familiarity. Seojoon was Taehyung's bestfriend.

Jeongguk's breath hitched. His breath usually does ever since he walked out from his apartment almost four years ago when Taehyung told him he was leaving him. He walked out without an explanation because he was pained. He already drew their future together.

Him and Taehyung. He already planned for everything when all of a sudden he had the audacity to say he was leaving, him. He dropped off his bag on the floor and took out his phone and called Seojoon.

"Hi, honey." Seojoon said, putting the phone on speaker. "Hi!" Jeongguk smiled. "What time is your flight tomorrow again?" Seojoon asked then spoke with someone else on the background. "Oh, I arrived today. I am at the apartment." "Oh. my. gosh. Honey, I am so sorry."

"It's okay. You're evidently busy." Jeongguk tried to hide the disappointment from his voice. "Yeah, headlines, ugh. But babe, let me make it up to you, okay?" Jeongguk frowned. Something was definitely not right. He felt as if he was dipped in cold water.

All of a sudden he felt his heart froze in time. For the first time with his relationship with Seojoon, he feels uncertainty. Because for the first time in their relationship, Seojoon called him, BABE.

---- A FEW DAYS LATER "Wooshik hyung, so I have to go to Seoul to meet with the publisher." Taehyung said. "That will be during the day, I should be back before the broadcast." Wooshik waa looking at Taehyung who was getting ready for his broadcast.

"Never expected for your show to be big, you know. So proud of my dongsaeng." Wooshik smiled at Taehyung. "Thank you, hyung." Taehyung said. "The person, Justin, who sent me letter a few months ago actually emailed." "Oh, wow. What does he want?" Wooshik asked.

"He wanted to know if he could type his response. He said he's really shy." Taehyung said. Shy. Who can be that shy? "Well, try talk to him. You can say he can just listen in or maybe just read like the last time." "I guess that works." Taehyung smiled at Wooshik.

"How's your dad by the way, DJ V?" Wooshik asked before heading out the door. "He's on remission officially three years today." Taehyung smiled at his boss genuinely. "That is amazing. Hang on kid, let me know if you need to talk, okay?" "Thanks, hyung. I will."

Taehyung stood up and looked at the email from his phone. He was intrigued. Actually more than intrigued. Somehow, he wanted to feature this on Monday when he returns back from Seoul.

---- Taehyung arrived in Seoul via train early Monday morning. His train travel went seamless as he was able to sit at his favorite spot at the back of the train where he could rest, where his mind could aimlessly wander at the sights outside his window.

He was nervous for sure because an opportunity like this only happens once in a lifetime. He gulped as he stepped on the platform. 'You can do it, Taehyung.' It had been years since he last came to Seoul. The last time was when he hurried back home to take care of his dad.

He looked at the map on his phone and double-checked his way to the Korean Publishers Association, which is at Jongno-gu. He took the light rail to the headquarters. He smiled it as he reminisced his university days at SNU. He wonders.

He wonders how a certain person must be doing right now. For all he knew, he's very happy and content with Seojoon. Seojoon. He used to be very close with his hyung. He was one of the people who he could totally confide with, well, not anymore.

For all he knew, he didn't know that his former best friend's attraction with his ex-boyfriend was so immense already. Taehyung smiled bitterly. He was aware that Seojoon was not really particularly fond of Jeongguk, but what's ironic was he got together with him month's after+

their break-up. T/W Mention of Illness Was he to blame? Unable to communicate to Jeongguk immediately after finding out his father's debilitating illness, was that his fault? Taehyung got off of the light rail and walked several minutes.

He arrived at the Korean Publishers Association building at a perfect time. He was thirty minutes early. He walked in the grey brick building as he smoothed his clothes and combed his hair with his fingers. He's ready, he thinks.

He looked at his reflection from the window before walking up to the reception area. He stared at his reflection and muttered to himself, 'You look perfectly fine.' He went to the reception area and smiled, "I am here for Kim Namjoon."

"You must be DJ V. I didn't expect you to be dashing and very handsome." The receptionist said. Taehyung's ears turned pink, flushed with embarrassment, maybe it was just sudden shyness. He scratched his head & thanked her politely. She gave him a temporary badge, "3rd floor."

"Thank you." He said and bowed. He went elevator and rode it alone. He was relieved, for he started becoming nervous when he got in the elevator. The elevator dinged open, third floor, He scanned the floor. Grateful, he was him walking towards him. "Welcome to KPA, DJ V."

Namjoon gave him a big smile and ushered him to his office. "I am honored. Thank you for gracing us with your presence." Namjoon said the monent they walked inside. Taehyung then replied, "I should be the one grateful and honored. Thank you for inviting me here.

Namjoon then gestured to Taehyung to sit down. "So, as you have heard, we would like to feature, write a book based on your program. It had been a year and some months, & I honestly think that you have a lot of good content already. Maybe we can feature 30 of your stories."

Taehyung smiled widely at him and allowed him to continue. "One of my managers even suggested that we feature an audio book together with the book with the actual recordings of the songs," Namjoon closed his eyes and smiled.

Taehyung was rendered speechless, so he just allowed Namjoon to speak. "Your radio show has become very popular, you know." Taehyung just smiles at Namjoon. He wonders, though, how all of a sudden his story comes to life. "Umm, Namjoonssi, how did you find out about my show?

"You came highly recommended by your customer." Namjoon smiled, showing off deep dimples from his cheek. "Oh, I wonder who?" Taehyung thought aloud. Namjoon chuckled, "Well, he followed your advice, and truth be told, I am glad it didn't play out."

"I am sorry?" Taehyung uttered in surprise. "Well, my boyfriend is Seokjin, your first feature. If he didn't tell Hobi he liked him and got rejected, then I wouldn't have a chance to pursue him." Interesting. Very interesting. "I am glad it worked out to your advantage."

"Yeah, and that's when I started listening in." Namjoon smiled encouragingly. "So, how does this whole book contract work?" "We'll draw up the contract and send it to your legal department, make sure the radio station agrees to all the stipulations stated in the contract. +

Then, you'll select thirty shows, and I want you to talk about them. Also, we will need to interview you as a part of the introduction, have a photo shoot, etc. Then, for book promotions, you'll be accompanied by your own manager from our company."

Taehyung can not process what's happening, "When you speak of promotions, what does that necessarily entail?" "Really depends on the first two weeks in the market. Then we'll determine if we need to promote to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, etc."

"How long does the entire publishing take?" Taehyung scrunched his eyebrows, worrying if he is able to still tend to his father if ever everything will push through. "Depends on your legal team. We'll visit Daegu to finalize the contract and maybe, I will bring one of your fans+

to your radio station." Taehyung just nodded, "I honestly think it's a great project. Thank you for the trust." "No, I should be the one who should he grateful. Your radio show is such a novel idea. It's really unique." "Thank you, Namjoonssi." Taehyung smiled.

"I will send the contract to your legal department. One of the important things I need to discuss with you is your advance. When you sign the contract, the radio station receives 13 million won, and you shall receive 17 million won. Then you'll receive royalties the sales."

17 million won. That is almost 4 million won more of his annual income, and that is just the advance. Taehyung nodded. He can not believe his fortune. Taehyung smiled at Namjoon as the latter stood up, "I am looking forward to introducing your radio show to the world."

Namjoon walked Taehyung to the elevator, "You will hear from me soon, and once the production of the book starts, your promotions manager will contact you." Namjoon's cellphone started ringing. Jeongguk. "Speaking of which, he's calling me right now. I will see you soon."

The elevator door closed as Namjoon answered the phone. "Hyung?" "Oh, hey Jeonggukie." "Hyung. I caught him. I was going to surprise him at work, but I caught him picking up his friend Hyungsik and locking lips with him." "Do you wanna have lunch?" "Yes, please."