"Welcome to Aurexa Biotech," a soft yet clear voice echoed in the hallway as a tall boy greeted the VIP guests, guiding them toward the conference room.
That boy is Kim Taehyung.
Twenty-four years old. Fluffy hair. A smile so gentle it could melt anyone's heart. Working as the personal assistant in one of the top biotech companies in South Korea. From the outside, his life looked perfectly in place — a stable job, good pay, polished shoes, and pressed shirts. People would think he had it all figured out.
But there is one tiny problem.
He is still single. Hopelessly, pathetically single.
To make matters worse — still a virgin. Never kissed. Not even once. And no, it wasn't because he didn't try. Back in university, he had attempted to flirt. Smile a little, lean casually, drop some pick-up lines he'd practiced in front of a mirror. But right when things seemed to be going well...
The devil would show up.
Jeon Jungkook.
Every. Single. Time.
His ultimate bad luck in life. Jungkook had been his senior at university, a walking Greek god with tattoos, a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, and that unfortunate charm that made girls go weak in the knees. And because fate had a cruel sense of humor, he also happened to be friends with Taehyung's only friend — Jimin. So every time Taehyung hung out with Jimin, Jungkook would magically appear, stealing all the attention and, along with it, any chance Taehyung had with a girl.
Taehyung hated him.
And just when he thought their paths would never cross again, life tossed another surprise at him.
Jeon Jungkook was now his boss.
CEO of Aurexa biotech, the company that had recently merged with zyenth pharma. The devil had leveled up.
He graduated earlier and after two years they met again professionally. Well in university, they never interacted much. He was epitome of rich kid. So, they never talked.
It had been a year since then he joined this company. A full year of pretending to smile while organizing his meetings, fetching his coffee, and listening to his impossibly high standards. One time, a single sheet in a file was slightly out of alignment, and Jungkook looked at him like he had committed murder.
Taehyung had smiled politely then — the kind of smile that covered an unspoken wish to throw the nearest stapler at the man's head. Hard enough to erase all his memories. Preferably forever.
But he couldn't do that.
Because this was the best job in the country. Because Jimin was still here. And because, despite everything, Taehyung had made peace with his unlucky stars. Sort of.
Now, his only goal left in life? To make someone — anyone — fall for him. Just once. No more being the background character. No more lonely dinners and pretending not to feel anything when he watched couples holding hands.
This was the year he would change that.
Hopefully.
Unless Jeon Jungkook decided to ruin that too.
Back to Reality
Taehyung stepped aside, letting the guests enter the conference room. One by one, they settled into their seats around the long, polished table.
He made his way to his designated seat, casting a quick glance toward the head of the table — where Jeon Jungkook sat, legs crossed, in deep conversation with Min Yoongi.
Oh, so mighty. As always.
At least Yoongi was somewhat normal. Calm, quiet, and blessedly not obsessed with symmetry like someone else in the room.
"Mr. Jeon, the guests have arrived," Taehyung said softly, gesturing toward the seated investors.
Jungkook acknowledged him with a brief glance and a nod, before turning toward the guests, offering a formal greeting. A few words exchanged, polite smiles shared.
Then his eyes flicked back to Taehyung.
"Where's the file for today's meeting?"
Without hesitation, Taehyung stepped forward and placed the document neatly in front of him. He had double-checked everything earlier — angles, order, alignment. God forbid a paper stuck out half an inch. The devil had a sharp eye for that kind of thing.
Jungkook opened the file and began skimming through the presentation slides Taehyung had spent nights preparing. The room was quiet, the guests waiting. But the CEO made no move to start the meeting.
Taehyung's gaze lingered on him. Why wasn't he saying anything? He'd worked so hard on that presentation — perfect formatting, charts, even the product design mockup. Was something wrong?
Jungkook looked up, meeting his eyes.
Taehyung blinked.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow, tone flat.
"Should I invite you to start the presentation?"
Taehyung's eyes widened. Him? Why him?
His heartbeat picked up. This was a new project. Jungkook never mentioned he'd be the one presenting it. He leaned forward slightly, voice hushed as if they were friends sharing a secret.
"But… isn't that your part?"
Jungkook didn't even blink.
"Are you the boss here?"
Taehyung swallowed the lump in his throat. He glanced at the room — all eyes now on him — and slowly stood, connecting the laptop to the screen. He adjusted the microphone, inhaled sharply, and turned to face the audience.
His lips moved silently in Jungkook's direction.
"Jerk."
Then he smiled brightly at the guests.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Kim Taehyung, Personal Assistant to Mr. Jeon. Today, I'll walk you through our upcoming project — NeuroCalm."
He clicked to the first slide.
"This is a collaborative product between Aurexa Biotech and Zynth Pharmaceuticals. NeuroCalm is a mild neuro-sedative developed through safe biosynthesis, designed to assist patients suffering from sleep disorders and anxiety-related symptoms. Our aim is to keep it non-addictive and accessible across a broader demographic, including pediatric and geriatric cases."
He moved to the next slide, keeping his voice steady.
"Aurexa Biotech will lead research and production, while Zynth Pharmaceuticals will handle packaging, distribution, and commercial rollout. Min Yoongi, CEO of Zynth Pharma, will now speak briefly on the distribution phase."
Yoongi stood and delivered his part with characteristic calm. Afterward, one of the investors spoke.
"It's a promising project. The market demand for a safe neuro-calmer is growing. We're impressed with the direction."
The meeting wrapped up shortly after. Chairs scraped, pleasantries exchanged, and the guests gradually left the room.
Taehyung stayed behind, gathering the files, organizing them meticulously. From the corner of his eye, he saw both CEOs standing and discussing something quietly.
No words of appreciation. Not even a passing "Well done."
Taehyung pressed his lips together and sighed.
Typical.
Taehyung neatly arranged the last set of files on the table, giving them one final glance to make sure everything was in perfect order. With a small sigh, he turned toward his laptop, ready to shut it down. The soft click of the conference room door closing caught his attention.
Someone had just left.
He didn't look. He assumed it was Jungkook.
"Finally," he muttered under his breath, powering off the laptop. "Someday, I swear, I'll punch that smug face. Right between those eyes. He'll remember the name Kim Taehyung till his last breath."
Feeling proud of his imaginary rebellion, he grabbed the laptop and turned around—
—and his soul practically left his body.
A loud yelp burst out of him as his hand slipped, the laptop hit the floor with a horrible thud, and the screen let out one flicker before going black.
Dead.
Very dead.
And worse?
Jungkook was still standing there.
Not gone. Not even halfway out the door. Just... there. Watching.
So Yoongi was the one who had left.
Taehyung froze, then forced a trembling smile as if nothing had happened. "Well, Mr. Jeon, you know... sometimes, accidents, you know, they just—happen."
Jungkook said nothing at first, hands calmly in his pockets, eyes unreadable.
"Next time," he said coolly, "try to make the slides less colorful."
Then he turned and walked out of the room.
Taehyung stared at the closed door in disbelief. Then silently stomped his foot on the floor, mouth opening in a frustrated scream that only came out as a breathless wheeze.
"What the hell, Taehyung? Why can't your mouth stay shut for once?!"
This wasn't even the first time Jungkook had caught him badmouthing. And every single time, Taehyung was sure it'd be his last day at Aurexa. But somehow, he always survived — probably thanks to Jimin. He had to believe that.
Muttering curses under his breath, he picked up the shattered laptop with a groan.
"Perfect. Now I need to pay for a new one too."
He marched out of the conference room and returned to his desk. The office was alive with quiet typing and murmurs — the buzz of a new project beginning. Everyone seemed focused. Professional.
Taehyung just wanted to disappear under his desk.
Jimin appeared beside him, holding a tablet and grinning.
"What happened, Secretary Kim?"
Taehyung slumped into his chair like a dying flower.
"Nothing. Just tired."
"Did you mess something up again in the meeting?" Jimin asked, clearly amused.
Taehyung scoffed. "I didn't mess up anything. Your devil friend just threw the presentation on me out of nowhere."
Jimin laughed. "To be fair, your presentations are always good. Maybe that's why he asked you."
"No. He just likes watching me panic. That's all."
"Alright, alright. Can I get the file for the presentation?"
Taehyung handed it over. "You guys did well on this project. When I was making the slides, everything was so organized. Seriously, good job."
Jimin gave a modest smile. "Thanks, Tae."
The two shared a small nod before returning to work — the chaos behind them, for now.
After working non-stop for hours, Taehyung finally checked the time.
Lunch break.
He glanced around. Most of the staff were already heading toward the cafeteria, chatting and stretching their limbs.
"Taehyung, come on! I'll get your lunch. Hurry up!" Jimin called out, already walking away with a few coworkers.
Taehyung stretched, groaning softly as his muscles cracked. He stood and, without thinking, glanced toward the CEO's office. Through the glass doors, he spotted Jungkook — sleeves rolled up, specs perched perfectly on his nose, eyes glued to the screen as he typed furiously.
Well… if nothing else, the man worked hard.
Still a jerk though.
With a sigh, Taehyung rolled his eyes and made his way to the cafeteria.
He hated lunch breaks.
Not because of the food — that was decent. But because lunch was when people got a little too chatty. Especially about relationships. And considering some of his coworkers were from his university days, they knew exactly how single he still was.
He spotted Jimin already seated at a table, surrounded by a group of overly excited colleagues — the self-declared office socialites. He took his seat quietly; Jimin had already gotten lunch for both of them.
"Valentine's Day is coming, guys!" Eun Bi squealed. "My boyfriend booked a table at a five-star restaurant. Ugh, he's the best!"
"Seriously?" another coworker sighed dreamily. "That's goals."
Taehyung had barely touched his spoon when someone turned to him with a teasing smirk.
"Taehyung, want me to set you up on a dating app? Or are you still waiting for someone to knock on your office door?"
The table erupted in light laughter.
"Yeah, Taehyung," Eun Bi chimed in, "I honestly can't believe you're still single. What do you even do on weekends?"
Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Well, there are plenty of things to do in life. I hang out with Jimin."
Jimin nearly choked on his food.
Taehyung threw him a sharp look — Don't you dare.
"But wait—" one of them squinted. "Isn't Jimin dating?"
"He's not," Taehyung quickly said. "He broke up."
Eun Bi turned her full attention to Jimin. "Wait, what? You and Bae Hana broke up?"
Jimin rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Worst girl I've ever dated. Trust me, I did myself a favor."
The conversation could've ended there.
But of course, it didn't.
"Still, Taehyung," another coworker grinned mischievously, "how have you never dated anyone? Are you, like... impot—"
Taehyung's eyes widened in horror.
"I'm not!" he snapped, glaring at everyone. "What is wrong with you people?!"
Thankfully — mercifully — the doors of the cafeteria opened and silence fell across the room.
Enter: Jeon Jungkook.
Dressed sharp, calm, intimidating. He stopped in the center of the room, scanning the tables. His eyes briefly flickered — and landed on Taehyung. A moment passed and he still did not Avert his eyes.
Taehyung squinted and leaned toward Jimin.
"What's he looking at?"
"Your face," Jimin whispered, barely holding back a laugh.
"What?"
"There's food... on the side of your mouth."
Taehyung grabbed a tissue, dabbing frantically at his lips. He glanced back up to see Jungkook finally look away.
He mumbled under his breath, "Great. Now his OCD wants my face clean too."
Jungkook finally spoke, addressing the entire cafeteria.
"Our new project officially begins today. To celebrate, there's a team dinner scheduled for tonight. Everyone's invited."
Cheers broke out around the room.
"I expect everyone to give their best effort for this project," he added — eyes briefly locking with Taehyung's one last time — then turned and walked out.
Taehyung stared at his plate and sighed.
"Why is he always looking at me like he's planning something?"
Jimin shrugged with a sly smile. "Maybe he is."
Taehyung rolled his eyes and returned to his food, pretending not to be affected. But his appetite had mysteriously shrunk.
.
.
Taehyung sighed for what felt like the fifth time in the last ten minutes.
He sat stiffly beside his colleagues at the long table in the restaurant, half-heartedly poking at his glass of water. The room buzzed with conversation — mostly about Valentine's Day, boyfriends, spa dates, and candlelight dinners.
He wasn't listening anymore.
His mind still clung to what Eun Bi had said during lunch. That question. That jab. It stuck like gum on a shoe, annoying and impossible to ignore.
He groaned internally, resisting the urge to slam his forehead on the table.
"Where are you going?" Jimin asked as Taehyung abruptly stood.
"They're about to serve dinner."
"I just need some air," Taehyung muttered.
"Wait, I'll come with you."
They slipped outside into the open air, the soft hum of the city surrounding them. Taehyung leaned against the wall, staring blankly into the distance.
Jimin watched him quietly for a second.
"What's bothering you?"
Taehyung shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Nothing."
"Your face has been like that since lunch," Jimin said. "Is it about what Eun Bi said?"
Taehyung stayed silent.
"It's all that devil's fault anyway," he muttered after a moment. "If Jeon Jungkook hadn't shown up every time I tried to flirt in uni, maybe I'd have had a girlfriend by now."
Jimin chuckled. "Well, yeah, Jungkook was the campus heartthrob. But you know he never dated any of those girls, right?"
Taehyung turned to him, surprised. "He didn't? Not even once?"
"Nope. Not in uni. After that, I'm not sure. He's private. And honestly, a total work maniac. Never asked."
"Huh..." Taehyung hummed, his eyes narrowing.
"Now tell me you've never had a crush?" Jimin raised a brow. "Not even a passing attraction?"
"I tried with girls," Taehyung sighed, "flirted, smiled, even bought a fake bouquet once. But I never really felt anything."
Jimin grinned. "Then maybe try with a man."
Taehyung blinked at him. "What?!"
"Come on, let's make it fun," Jimin said. "We'll go back inside, and the first guy who enters the restaurant — you flirt with him."
"That's insane! What if he's fifty and married with three kids?"
"Then you'll politely walk away," Jimin said, laughing. "But I bet he won't be. Just go with it."
Reluctantly, Taehyung followed him back inside. They returned to their seats as the waiters began serving dinner. Plates clinked. People chatted.
And both of them had their eyes fixed on the entrance.
Taehyung exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. "Please let him be normal-looking…"
Jimin suddenly gasped.
Taehyung's eyes shot open. "Tell me. He's not ancient, right? Or wearing socks with sandals?"
Jimin leaned in, barely containing his laugh.
"Well, Taehyung… he's definitely good-looking."
Taehyung turned his head.
And froze.
Right there, walking through the entrance, was Jeon Jungkook.
Taehyung screamed.
A sharp, startled squeal that made every head at the table turn toward him — including Jungkook's.
The CEO halted mid-step, blinking at him in confusion. Taehyung, mortified, slapped a hand over his mouth.
Jungkook's eyes narrowed, and he briefly glanced over his shoulder like he was checking if something was behind him. But no — all eyes were on Taehyung.
Without another word, Taehyung sprang to his feet and bolted out of the restaurant.
"No, no, no... This cannot be happening," he muttered as he paced outside, looking down at the pavement, hands in his hair. "Why him? Of all people, why him?!"
In his flurry of panic, he turned too quickly—
—and bumped right into someone.
"Ouch—" he winced, then looked up.
His stomach dropped.
Jungkook stood there, arms crossed, brows slightly lifted.
"Can you explain why this is the second time today you've screamed at me?"
Taehyung stood frozen like a statue.
He forced his expression into something remotely innocent, though internally he was already preparing his resignation speech.
But instead, his mouth moved on its own.
"Are you single, Mr. Jeon?" he asked deadpan.
Silence.
Even Taehyung looked shocked at his own words. But there it was — out in the open. No taking it back now.
Jungkook stared at him, clearly caught off guard.
Taehyung watched in real time as confusion flickered across his CEO's face.
And he knew.
He had officially, completely, royally messed up.