To Find Something True

※ three

Amber ignored them as she spoke to Seokjin. "Where is Hoseok?"

"Trapping himself with sketches, as always."

"That boy needs to get out of the office sometimes."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow as though he had found mistakes in the remark.

Amber continued, "I mean, he always traps himself inside as soon as he starts working, doesn't he?"

"There's no way to make him stop unless it has something to do with food."

"It's not food that attracts him out. It's because you always threaten him with your spatula."

Seokjin showed her a proud smile with a shrug. "I never hit him with it, but you know, he listens to me well."

Amber snorted and scoffed in English, "whatever." She then shook her head with an unbearable smile on her face.

While others were busy with their work, Seokjin and Amber continued to converse. Seokjin asked, "Are you planning a holiday?"

Amber shook her head with a downward curved lip as she dragged a box to a lavender velvety stool next to Seokjin. "Yo, help me."

Seokjin sprang up from the stool and dragged the other two boxes under the counter. As soon as there were no more boxes to bring, both of them opened them. New deliveries were checked one by one.

Seokjin inquired, "So, what are you doing in New York?"

"Looking for Jiwoo."

Seokjin became slow at his work. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. "In New York? That's unlikely where Jiwoo would be."

"What if I have proof?"

The broad-shouldered man continued to work. He did not bother to ask what proof there might be since he sensed it could relate to Jiwoo's privacy and only Amber knew. He then asked, "is that possible? For a case that didn't happen there, should be investigated here."

"For that, I'll talk about it with my cousin. One of my cousins works as a detective in New York. If it's possible, I may return late. You and Yoongi can take care of the boutique while I'm absent, right?"

"With these monkeys?" Seokjin turned his head to see his sister and Wheein laughing at Jungkook imitating someone in a silly way. The girls even started doing weird poses.

On the other side, no one knew what Jimin and Taehyung were doing at the back, but he heard something clashing and a small shout "you deserve a punishment!" And then, hearing them singing the Sailor Moon theme song. There was even a clanging sound at the back. He began to fear that they would damage some of his kitchen utensils.

When Namjoon sat still with his paperwork, he was relieved. Not until the tallest man of them all stood up. He tripped on one of the stool's legs and fell on his face. Seeing him on the ground, the young people rushed to help and asked if he was okay. In Namjoon's hand, a sign of okay.

While Seokjin wasn't involved with them, seeing them already wore him out. He let out a loud sigh.

Amber let out a snort. "Come on, Jin."

"Yoongi's right. I wish I could turn this boutique into a circus right now. We'd profit a lot."

Amber guffawed.

"Oh, hey, how about Hoseok?"

Amber jerked her head a bit as she checked the items. "What about him?"

"He's the boss. Does he know?"

"Nope. You better not tell him the reason I'm off to New York."

Seokjin nodded his head.

"And I think we need to hire someone to fill my place."

"Pardon?" The man's eyes grew big. "Please no more. Not when you won't be around."

"I'll let you and Yoongi handle this. Choose any one suitable for Hoseok. That person won't fill my role by the way. Just a personal assistant for Hoseok. Like, remind his stuff, tell him this and that, help him search for some stuff."

Seokjin put down the final item on his lap. "Hoseok doesn't like working with someone he's not familiar with. Even with these monkeys."

Amber punched his left shoulder lightly with a flustered laugh. "Can you stop calling them monkeys?"

"Why? It suits them!"

"Let me remind you, you are one too."

Seokjin choked on his saliva. Incredulous, he remarked, "hey, I can win the Guinness Record for the most handsome monkey in the world if I am one!"

Amber shook her head. She muttered in English, "Oh, god." She added, "anyway, that is why we shouldn't tell him."

"And these chimpanzees?"

Amber sent him another punch before bending down to laugh quietly. Even Seokjin laughed with her. She slapped her thigh as she suppressed her laugh. "They know that we're hiring new staff. They can help you and Yoongi plan, at least."

Seokjin nodded his head again, acknowledging that the youngsters could be helpful for once.