SWITCH

EPISODE(9)

All the selected applicants were seated in the waiting area when a woman entered, exuding confidence in a sleek black pencil skirt paired with a crisp white top. She smiled warmly and announced, "Hello, my name is Park Rose. Congratulations on making it to the final round! The next round will be challenging, as the president will conduct your interviews. Your interview will start in one hour, so please make yourselves comfortable. Here are some snacks for you to enjoy while you relax. I’ll return in an hour."

As she spoke, she scanned the room and asked, "And who is Kim Taehyung?"

“Here!” Taehyung replied, raising his head from his phone, a look of confusion on his face. “Congratulations, by the way,” Park Rose added with a professional smile.

"Sorry, but why congratulations?" Taehyung responded, his voice deep and slightly puzzled.

“I was just speaking with Mr. Lee, and he was quite impressed with you,” she explained, maintaining her friendly demeanour.

Taehyung chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice as he replied, “Thanks!”

“Alright then, enjoy your free time, and I’ll see you all shortly for the final interviews,” Park Rose said before exiting the room.

---

With that, all three of them grabbed their snacks. Taehyung took only an iced coffee latte to refresh his mind, while the other two devoured the entire snack feast, crumbs flying like confetti at a party.

Meanwhile, Taehyung was deep in thought, trying to devise a master plan to impress Jeon Jungkook. He mused, “If Jungkook is anything like an old-school mafia boss, he must be in his 50s or 60s, right? I can just picture him with a collection of vintage canes, sharing stories about the good old days when he was young and the world was a different place. Impressing someone with that kind of ‘experience’ should be a piece of cake!”

He chuckled to himself, feeling a wave of confidence wash over him. “If I can charm a senior citizen at a bingo night, I can win over a mafia boss! Just throw in some compliments about his ‘wisdom’ and maybe a few references to classic movies. Easy-peasy!”

As he sat there, plotting his strategy, he couldn’t help but feel a little more relaxed. “Who knew getting into a company could be this entertaining?” he thought, eyeing the snack feast with a smirk. “At least I’ve got snacks to fuel my genius ideas!”

After about an hour, the same lady with a professional smile strolled in and announced, “Hope you’re all ready for the interview.” Everyone stood up, grinning like they were about to win the lottery. But when she gestured for them to follow her, Taehyung strutted behind her with an intimidating aura and a confident swagger that turned heads like a red carpet premiere. He knew the effect he had on people, and he wore it like a crown, smirking as if he were the world’s best-kept secret—completely indifferent to the whispers and stares, much like one ignores a particularly annoying advertisement.

They ascended to the 30th floor, where the atmosphere was buzzing with busy professionals. Yet, the moment Taehyung entered, he could hear the hushed whispers of girls, their eyes practically glued to him. But Miss Park, clearly fed up with the distractions, shut them down with a sharp glare. “Do your work, everyone, and stop gawking!” she snapped, her irritation evident.

Taehyung couldn’t help but chuckle at her annoyance. With a flick of his hair, he settled into a chair in the room near the president’s office, waiting for her to call someone. Ugh, why all these formalities? It’s just an interview, he thought, rolling his eyes in annoyance. I could be out there dazzling the world instead of sitting here like a trophy on display.

As they settled into the room, a man entered, clad in an expensive black three-piece suit. He was undeniably handsome and charming, but even he paled in comparison to Taehyung, whose captivating and intimidating aura could make anyone else seem like a mere background character.

“Hello, I’m Cha Eunwoo, the president's secretary. Your interview is about to begin, and the first candidate is Mr. Kang Daniel,” he announced, glancing at his iPad with a professional air.

At the mention of his name, Kang Daniel looked up, a mix of excitement and nerves dancing in his eyes. “Here, sir,” he said, straightening his posture.

“Let’s go,” Eunwoo instructed, his tone brisk and efficient. Daniel nodded nervously, clearly feeling the weight of the moment.

“Good luck, Daniel,” Taehyung said, his voice smooth and encouraging, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Thanks, Tae,” Daniel replied, flashing a grateful smile, though it was clear he was still a bit on edge.

As Daniel followed Eunwoo out, Taehyung leaned back in his chair, exuding an effortless confidence that filled the room. Let the games begin, he thought, ready to see how this all unfolded.

“Aren’t you afraid or nervous that you might not get the job?” Shim Chong asked Taehyung, her eyes narrowing as she observed him intently.

Taehyung turned to her, a confident smile playing on his lips. “Nope, not at all. It’s just an interview, and besides, I know I’ll be the winner. So why would I be nervous or scared, hmm?”

Shim Chong’s jaw dropped in shock at his audacity. “Don’t be too overconfident. I might just snag that chance from you. You never know,” she replied, a smirk creeping across her face.

Taehyung chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “It’s not possible for you because you lack confidence in yourself. You might have a chance to lose, but I don’t,” he said, flashing a teasing smirk before pulling out his phone and starting to scroll.

Shim Chong’s frustration boiled beneath the surface, her cheeks flushing with anger. But before she could retort, Kang Daniel returned with Eunwoo, looking a bit dishevelled.

“Next is Miss Shim Chong,” Eunwoo announced. Shim Chong shot Taehyung a final glare before following Eunwoo out of the room.

Curiosity piqued, Taehyung leaned toward Daniel. “How was the interview?”

Daniel let out a frustrated sigh. “It was the worst interview ever! The guy is so picky—total A**hole. He asked me my name, and when I got comfortable in my seat, he just said, ‘You’re rejected.’ Like, what the hell?”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, surprised by Daniel’s bluntness. “Wow, that’s rough. I hope you find something better than this job,” he said, offering genuine support.

“Thanks, man. Bye, and good luck,” Daniel replied before exiting the room, leaving Taehyung alone with his thoughts.

“Interesting, very interesting,” Taehyung murmured to himself with a smirk, relishing the unfolding drama.

Moments later, she returned, bag in hand, shooting Taehyung a glare. "Not a chance, bro," she snapped at Tae before heading for the door. Just as she left, Tae let out a chuckle.

"Give me your number, Miss Chong. I’ll call you soon regarding the job," he called after her.

She stomped out of the room, clearly annoyed.

Eunwoo turned to Tae. "It's your turn. Go on, quickly." Taehyung stood up, adjusted his clothes, and followed Eunwoo into the president's office.

The office was luxurious, the opulence of the entire building screaming just how wealthy this mafia was. Eunwoo gestured for Taehyung to enter and take a seat on the plush couch while the president spoke on the phone, his back turned to them as he gazed out the window.

Eunwoo leaned in, whispering something in the president's ear. The president nodded, then gestured for Eunwoo to leave the room.

Taehyung observed the scene, noting the president’s physique. It was clear he wasn’t some old-timer, making it evident that getting into the company wouldn’t be as simple as distracting him during the interview.

---

Tae sat on the plush couch, his gaze fixed on his lap, lost in thought as he waited for the president. Suddenly, he felt the weight shift in front of him and looked up, his breath catching in his throat. There, sitting before him, was the most strikingly handsome man he had ever seen—Jungkook.

Caught off guard by Jungkook’s magnetic presence, Tae quickly stood up, bowing deeply in respect. "Hello, sir. I'm Kim Taehyung," he stammered, his heart racing.

Jungkook chuckled softly, a warm smile spreading across his face as he gestured for Tae to sit back down. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, and Tae could feel his cheeks flush under Jungkook's intense gaze.

"Nice to meet you, Taehyung," Jungkook replied, his voice smooth and inviting.

“So, tell me something about you,” Jungkook said, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. In his mind, he couldn’t help but think, Aww, my baby is so cute. I want to kiss you so damn much.

Tae felt a rush of warmth at Jungkook’s gaze, the way it seemed to draw him in closer. “Well, I—” he started, his heart racing as he tried to gather his thoughts. The intensity of Jungkook’s attention made it hard to focus, and he could feel a slight blush creeping up his cheeks.

Jungkook leaned forward slightly, his expression inviting yet teasing, making Tae feel both nervous and exhilarated. The air between them felt charged, and for a moment, all else faded away.

“What do you enjoy doing outside of work?” Jungkook prompted, his voice low and smooth, as if he were sharing a secret just between the two of them.

Tae swallowed hard, captivated not just by the question but by the way Jungkook was looking at him, as if he were the only person in the room. He took a moment, letting the tension hang in the air before responding.

“Well, besides being ridiculously charming,” he said, flashing a playful grin, “I love diving into my art. I spend a lot of time painting and creating music. It’s my way of expressing everything I can’t say out loud.” He leaned forward slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And let’s be honest, I’m pretty good at it. You might even say I’m a bit of a genius.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “A genius, huh?”

“Absolutely,” Tae replied, his confidence unwavering. “But I also enjoy a good adventure. Whether it’s exploring a new café or just getting lost in the city, I believe life is too short to stick to a routine. You never know what kind of inspiration you might stumble upon.”

Jungkook chuckled, impressed. “I like your spirit. So, you’re saying you’re not afraid to take risks?”

“Not at all,” Tae said, his smile widening. “In fact, I thrive on them. If you’re not taking risks, are you really living? Plus, it keeps things exciting. Who knows? I might even take a risk and challenge you to a paint-off someday.”

Jungkook’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. “A paint-off? Now that sounds like a challenge I might just accept.”

---

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, studying Tae with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. “So, Taehyung, what’s something that makes you stand out?” he asked, his tone casual yet laced with an underlying intensity.

Tae shifted slightly, feeling the weight of Jungkook’s gaze on him. “I guess I’m not afraid to be myself,” he replied, his voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside. “I like to express my creativity, whether it’s through music or art. It’s important to me to stay true to who I am.”

Jungkook’s smirk widened. This kid has guts he thought, a flicker of admiration sparking within him. “Creativity, huh? That’s interesting. But what happens when things get tough? Do you still manage to stay true to yourself?”

Tae met Jungkook’s gaze, feeling the challenge in his words. “I believe that’s when it matters most,” he said, his confidence growing. “When faced with adversity, it’s easy to lose yourself. But I try to channel that into my art, to transform pain into something beautiful.”

Jungkook felt a rush of respect for Tae. Damn, he’s deeper than I expected, he mused, the intimidating aura around him softening just a bit. “You’re not afraid to dig deep, are you? That’s rare.”

Tae smiled, sensing Jungkook’s shift in demeanour. “I think everyone has layers. It just takes the right person to peel them back.”

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, intrigued. This guy… he’s not just cute; he’s got a fire in him. I like that, he thought, a hint of mischief playing in his mind. “So, what if I wanted to peel back those layers, Taehyung? What would I find?”

Tae’s heart raced at the implication, his cheeks warming under Jungkook’s intense gaze. “You might find someone who’s passionate, maybe a little quirky, but definitely someone who values honesty and connection.”

Jungkook leaned in closer, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. “And what if I like what I find?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, sending shivers down Tae’s spine.

Tae swallowed hard, feeling both intimidated and exhilarated. “Then… I guess we’d have to see where that leads us,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook grinned, his mind racing with possibilities. Oh, this is going to be fun he thought, the playful challenge igniting a spark of excitement within him.

Jungkook leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes. “Hmm, I’m impressed. But before we dive deeper into this interview, can I ask you something a bit… personal?”

Tae raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of curiosity and caution. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What’s your s****l orientation? Straight, bisexual, or maybe something else?”

Tae felt a flicker of confusion at the unexpected question, but he shrugged it off with a casual smile. “I’m straight,” he replied confidently. Then, with a playful glint in his eyes, he leaned back on the couch, casually opening his legs. “But if the guy is someone like you, I could definitely consider being bi too.” He smirked, his expression teasing.

Jungkook gulped, his gaze unintentionally dropping to the noticeable bulge of Tae’s jeans. He quickly crossed his legs, shifting in his seat as he tried to regain his composure. “Well, I like your attitude,” he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. “You’re accepted. Welcome to JJK Enterprises.”

Tae’s eyes widened in surprise, a grin spreading across his face. “Really? Just like that?”

“Yep,” Jungkook replied, his tone firm yet playful. “You can start tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM. Not a minute less, not a minute more. Get the other details from Eunwoo, and you’re free to go now.”

Tae nodded, excitement bubbling within him. “Got it! I’ll be there, sharp as a tack. And who knows? Maybe I’ll bring some of my art to spice up the office.”

Jungkook chuckled, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and intrigue. “I look forward to it, Taehyung.”

Tae left the room smirking, pleased with his first victory in his plan. He completed his office duties and then headed home.

Meanwhile, Jungkook felt joyous knowing that his love would be with him and was determined to make him fall in love too. "I love you, Tae," he said to himself with a chuckle.

..................................................................

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Stay tuned; the real drama is coming soon.

Take care and have a great day, petals.

I purple you.

Goodbye.