unrivaled

She fell into Park Jimin's life just when he needed her most.  They were both away from home for the first time, struggling to make friends.  Jimin found many people wanted him, not many wanted to spend the time to know him.

As he was helping Dae to her feet, Taehyung rushed up, ready to fight anyone who would harm his friend. Dae quickly explained that Jimin had just saved her from public humiliation and tension became supper became drinks became a lifelong friendship.

Jimin and Dae had quickly fallen into that hazy area between best friends and romantic feelings.  He left her feeling confused or happy.  She left him hard and frustrated or content.

Neither wanted to cross the line and risk the deep commitment they had formed or the family they had created with the three of them. 

Tae was another factor.  Jimin knew if he hurt Dae that Taehyung would kick his ass for days until he was satisfied, then start again.

However, one night after a drunken celebration of the end of finals, all that changed. 

Walking Dae back to her apartment, the pair had tumbled onto that same quad where they first met.  They had laughed hysterically at themselves until their eyes caught and the laughter was replaced with the spark of a slow fire.

Jimin had taken her in his arms and slowly kissed her, tender touches and slow deep kisses as he gently laid her down in the soft grass.

She opened her mouth for him, her first real kiss, and he swept his tongue in to taste her, groaning that the reality was much better than his dreams.  He had shifted to cover her body with his, his hands gently caressing her, slowly growing bolder. 

She sighed at the feel of him reaching to tangle her hands in his hair, pulling him closer to her.

Though the thrum of their desire they slowly became aware of a voice calling their names.  Taehyung had followed them from the bar. 

Jimin's buzz had burned away by the need he felt for Dae.  Looking down into her face, eyes blown with desire, lips bruised from his kisses, he knew his dream had become reality.  But closing his eyes for one last kiss, he also knew it was time to wake up. 

He sat and drew her up with him.  She groaned in protest and reached for him again.  With control he did not know he had, he gently told her no.

“Tae is here.  We need to get you back to your apartment.” He whispered.

“Thank you. Thank you for this.” And with one lingering kiss he pulled her to her feet just as Tae wandered onto the lawn.

He stepped back and allowed Tae to take her back to her apartment, not trusting himself any further.

The next day they all laughed at how drunk they were and went their separate ways for summer break.

When they came back in the fall, it was as if it had never happened.

The three of them remained close as they finished school.  Jimin landed a series of modeling jobs and grew quite famous.  However, he soon grew bored with being a pretty face so he began to learn the industry from the bottom up. 

Part of Jimin's charm was the fact that he was as smart as he was handsome.  The fact that he kept it hidden was deadly to those that underestimated him.

He quickly started his own company and became the best publicist in the country.  He was obscenely wealthy and was famously selective about his client list.  Dae was at the top of his list.

Dae sometimes questioned her memories of that night on the campus quad, the kiss, the heat between them.  Usually she convinced herself it was the cheap soju and the nostalgia of a first kiss.
Jimin still dreamed about that night.

“Jin, you know this is a huge opportunity for both of us.  We need media spin and view counts and Jimin is the very best,” she explained.

Jin was silent in the other end of the phone.  He knew Jimin was the best, hell he always used his firm, but there was just something about the way he looked at Dae .

With Taehyung he saw pure protection, Hosek was strictly professional, but Jimin….. Jimin had a connection with Dae that Jin could not define, he just knew he did not like it. 

It made it worse that neither of them seemed aware of it.  He narrowed his eyes, or maybe just it was just Dae who missed the hunger in Jimin's eyes.

“Let's try someone new,” Jin suggested, “or just not do press this time.”

Dae sighed, “Jin.  You know we can’t do that.  Give me solid reasons to reconsider and I will.”

After waiting for Jin's argument and hearing none, she resumed the conversation.

“OK Jin.  I will call Jimin and brief him.  Your conference suite at 6?” she asked.
After he confirmed she said, “Jin, this is a really special occasion.  Why don’t we bring in supper so we can all celebrate together?”

“I am sorry.  I have made special plans for the evening.  I will have drinks ready for when we are finished.” Jin answered.

Dae felt her face flush and disappointment wash over her.  They always celebrated contracts together.  It was really the only time they could freely go out together without the press pushing for some type of scandal.

“I see,” Dae managed, “Let’s do this well then.”

She sat for several minutes holding the phone in her hand. 

This was growing too difficult.  On one hand, it hurt her too deeply to think about Jin dating others, on the other their whole relationship was supposed to be a casual connection of convenience that changed with their needs.

She had no idea what she was going to do and was coward enough to tell herself she had plenty of time to think about it.