ACT VIII | SCENE XXXIX

❝FOURTEEN LETTERS❞

KIM SEOKJIN RECLINED into the soft black leather chair, crossing one leg over the other, eyes regarding his younger friends and brother with curiosity. "what is this about?" he asked in his quiet silky voice, wondering why they came to see him at his office.

the large space was neat and organised, most of the furniture being monochrome with the occasional touch of pastel pink here and there. the wall behind his desk was a floor to ceiling glass window that offered an amazing view of the city outside. on the other two walls hung a couple of monochrome paintings.

there were two white sofas opposite each other in front of which the black chair was. it was here that taehyung, namjoon, jimin and jin were comfortably sat. a glass coffee table was in the space between the furniture, four teacups and a teapot on it.

"hyung, when are you going to ask jisoo to marry you?" taehyung didn't bother beating around the bush. one of jin's thick eyebrows moved up smoothly. "do you want to propose to her if i don't?" he asked. namjoon snorted at the sassy reply. "maybe," taehyung cocked his head, equally as sassy.

"ignore him." namjoon picked up the teacup and took a sip. "the maybe part, not the question." jimin put in. taehyung may have forced them here but they were also genuinely curious to know what was holding jin back. "i know you got a ring, i even saw it. so why won't you ask?" taehyung whined. namjoon rubbed his brow with the back of his thumb exasperatedly. jimin reached over and shoved the younger man. "shut up."

"were you searching through my room?" jin tilted his head in question. "no..." taehyung dragged out the word, making him seem suspicious. the three men turned their gazes on him. "i really didn't! i just...walked in when you weren't there and saw it on your nightstand." he defended. jin's brow quirked up, head still tilted to one side. "i was waiting to talk to you!" taehyung huffed.

jimin chuckled, head shaking at his friend. "it's okay, tae. we believe you." he patted the man's shoulder. jin's lips curved up in amusement at his little brother. he uncrossed his legs only to cross them again in the opposite direction. reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket, he pulled something out, holding it up for them to see. it was a small silver box and they guessed it held the engagement ring taehyung had seen.

"i've been trying to figure out the best way to pop the question, if i'm being honest. i want it to be perfect." he moved the box between his long slim fingers, keeping his eyes as well as theirs on it. "heo jisoo already let it slip that she hates public proposals last year, so that's out of the question." he sighed, dropping the box onto his open palm.

"just ask her. it doesn't really matter if you have a grand gesture. she'll just be glad you finally asked." namjoon suggested. and it was his turn to have three pairs of eyes boring into him. "do you even have a romantic bone in your body?" taehyung queried. "how are you going to keep your french girlfriend interested if you think like this?" he clicked his tongue.

namjoon opened his mouth to reply but shut it again, shaking his head, he decided there was no point in arguing about the kind of relationship he and brigitte had.

"hmm, what if you take her for dinner and put it in her champagne or dessert or something?" taehyung turned back to his brother. "those kinds of proposals are more health hazards than romantic gestures in my opinion. what if she chokes on a thirty two carat diamond before she even gets to realise you're proposing?" jimin crinkled his nose.

the office went quiet as the image of a choking jisoo formed in their minds. a look of horror passed over their faces. jin shook his head quickly, brushing off the suggestion. "you're a regular buzz kill, jiminie." taehyung finally commented. "i was just stating my opinion, sorry." he shrugged. "no, you implanted a nightmare in our heads." namjoon countered, pressing his index finger between his brows and rubbing as if it would help wipe away the thought. jimin lifted his hands up in surrender. "i'm sorry."

jin sighed, dropping his head forward in thought. "i've racked my brain for weeks now. her hating public proposals considerably cut down all the ideas i'd had when i started thinking of proposing." he lifted his head again, letting his fingers run through his hair. "that's because you're the most dramatic person, hyung." taehyung remarked, earning him a dirty look from his brother.

"i've got an idea." jimin spoke up after a pregnant pause. they looked at him as he smiled. it's going to take two weeks to get it right." he informed. "okay but what is it?" jin asked impatiently. jimin's lips only curved higher. "fourteen letters. one everyday for two weeks."

"that sounds dumb and annoying." namjoon muttered. jimin shot him a glare but continued to explain. "you can just write things like how much you love her and how you hope her day is going great. the content isn't really what's important here. what matters is the first letter that begins each message. it'll be written in a larger and bolder font than everything else. because by the fourteenth letter, it'll read out 'will you marry me" and you'll ask her at the end of the last letter to read the first letters of every one together and have the ring in the envelope."

the three men gaped at their friend as he finished in wonder. "damn, that's perfect." namjoon remarked. "that is so freaking sweet, i need to see my dentist for the cavities i got from just listening." taehyung rubbed his hand over his mouth. "wow, jimin. that is so well thought out. i love it. thank you so much!" jin laughed, leaning over to ruffle the younger man's hair. "how did you think of it so fast?"

"i don't know. it just came to me." jimin shrugged with a grin, even though that wasn't the truth. it hadn't just come to him. he was going to propose to someone that way too a long time ago. but he never got past the first letter.

☀☀☀

i should be listening in class but my attention span for the day has been exhausted so i finished writing this chapter. the amazing third guy from the left is finally here! haha