Saeran: I'm leaving, we just got to my place.

Saeran: Just do what I told you to.

Saeran has left the chatroom

Saeyoung: Wow…

Saeyoung: Alright, well you heard him.

Saeyoung: You and Yoosung have to clean up the centerpieces and drop them off at the shop.

Saeyoung has left the chatroom

ZEN: -angry emoji-

ZEN: I don't even have keys to the shop!

ZEN has left the chatroom

"Any word on Saeran?" Yoosung asked, eyeing the red-head from his seat.

"He left with MC," Saeyoung sighed, leaning back in his chair, "They're going back to his place."

"Why'd he leave?"

"Probably to have some alone time with her, he hasn't necessarily sat down almost the entire party," he said, swirling the drink in his hand before knocking it back and glancing at his phone, "And it is now 10:44 pm, which means you're officially out of the running."

"We don't know that they haven't yet!" Yoosung exclaimed.

"Haven't what?" V asked, startling the two as they looked up to see the tall figure practically tower over them.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry abou-"

"Saeyoung!" they heard Zen call from the other direction, approaching the three, "Do you know if they have yet?"

"I don't think so, I was just telling Yoosung he's out now," Saeyoung responded, "But I still have over an hour left so we'll have to see."

"Alright, I'll ask differently," V piped up once again, "What are you three talking about?"

"It's nothing, just a silly bet," Saeyoung said, waving his hand as if to dismiss him but the long silence that fell between was unbearable and awkward as he couldn't think of anything else to say.

"We bet on when Saeran and MC would kiss!" Yoosung practically blurted out, receiving a wide-eyed and knowing look from Saeyoung and Zen.

"Saeyoung-"

"Look, V, it's not as bad as you think it is. In fact, I'm rooting for him! Zen's the one saying it's not gonna happen at all," Saeyoung explained, pointing an accusatory finger at the other.

"Woah woah, I never said I was against him," Zen said, "I just bet that they weren't going to tonight."

"That's still being against him!"

"Well," Yoosung intervened, "if they are going back to his place, they could be doing more than just kiss..."

"No, Saeran's really not like that," V said.

"You're right and here's what I think is gonna happen," Saeyoung said, leaning back in his chair as he eyed the three, "He's going to take her up to his garden. It's nice, secluded, and incredibly romantic. They're going to talk, possibly on that bench he has right in the middle and it'll make for the perfect setting. It's going to get real deep and profound. She's going to say or do something that's going to set off a million alarms in his brain to just lean in, and then boom! They kiss and I just made 55000 won from each of you because it'll happen before midnight!"

"You have such a wild imagination, and while I'm glad to see that you believe in him so much," V said, "I'm not entirely set on it being for personal gain. I'm officially cancelling this bet."

"Can't do that unless you're running it," Saeyoung chimed.

"You're right, but I could also inform Saeran about this," V said, a deceivingly innocent smile on his face as he spoke.

"Alright, alright, it's off. But V," Saeyoung said, straightening back up, "I am curious, what do you think?"

"About Saeran and MC?"

"Well, yeah. You've essentially raised us, you know us better than anyone. What do you think?"

"To be honest," V sighed, pausing to see the three's absolute attention on him, "I've never seen Saeran so happy."

"Really?" Zen asked, almost fascinated at the response.

"Yeah. I hope this works out for him. The way that they talk about each other is really sweet and I've never seen two people look at each other like that."

"Like what?" Yoosung asked.

"Like it was just the two of them. As if no one else in the room mattered, and I'm just glad that he's found that."

"What does Rika think?" Yoosung followed up.

"Rika," V started, hesitant as he thought over his next words, "Might have a differing opinion. I'm sure she just needs some time, but I know she's not entirely against them."

"Why would she be against it at all?" Saeyoung asked curiously, though he noticed V almost tense up at the question.

"She's just very protective of him, just as she is with you or Yoosung, or even the rest of the RFA," he paused, getting up from his seat abruptly, "Speaking of, I need to find Jumin. I'll talk you all soon."

As V walked away, he didn't notice the curious stares from them as he made his way out of sight. But as V made his way through the crowd, the feeling in the pit of his stomach had him unsettled, nervous as to just what would happen next.

Meanwhile Saeyoung's eyes never left the crowd, taken aback by the way his father-figure seemed anxious by the mere mention of his fiancé. Though he set that aside, turning to Yoosung and Zen as another thought came to mind.

"Yeah, the bet's still on."