They guys had finally convinced Yoongi to come out with them Friday night. Alex would be back the next evening, and they were all anxious for her to get back. Yoongi was getting cranky and they were ready for him to be in a better mood.

They headed out to a small local bar. They ordered several bottles of Soju and beer, and immediately started pouring drinks and handing them to Yoongi.

"Geez guys, why are you trying to get me drunk? I'm not the only one drinking am I?" He looked down at the three glasses they had put in front of him.

"No Hyung, we just wanted to relax and hang for a night. You've been hiding in the studio all this time, so we thought you needed to get out." Jimin took a drink of his somaek.

Yoongi shrugged his shoulders and downed the first glass, then reached for the second. He drank that one a bit slower, but was on to his third glass before the others had finished their first. Namjoon looked at the others and raised his eyebrows. "Hyung, what's up? I know you've got something brewing in that brain of yours."

Yoongi could already feel the buzz and poured himself another somaek. He was quiet for a few minutes, then the flood gates opened. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding everyone. I thought I had beaten that habit by now. I can't stop thinking about Alex."

"We know, that's not a surprise. What we want to know is, what about her are you thinking of?" Tae took a sip of his wine while he waited for Yoongi to answer.

Yoongi shrugged his shoulders, "Everything . . . . I like her, and even though I was fighting my feelings, I think I've really fallen for her. I want to ask her out, but I don't know how, or if she'll respond in a good way. I feel like a bumbling teenager when I'm around her."

The guys all exchanged smiles around the table. Their Yoongi, their grandpa, was lacking confidence. It was cute seeing him such a mess. RM leaned his elbows on the table, "Yoongi, you have nothing to worry about. Ask her out. It will go better than you think."

"But, how do you know? What if I'm not enough for her, what if she just sees me as some idol she works with? What if I have all these feelings for her and she doesn't feel the same way back?" He downed another glass and poured another.

The guys exchanged worried glances. Obviously Yoongi had not talked very deeply with Alex about his feelings, or hers. Otherwise he wouldn't be questioning everything. Jin leaned on the table as he spoke to Yoongi, "Have you still not talked to each other about how you feel?"

Yoongi gave him a hesitant smile, "Not exactly. I almost told her how I felt when we were in Bangkok, but then I chickened out." He traced the rim of his glass with his finger. "But, we have had some good moments where I'm pretty sure she understands I like her. I mean, especially after I gave her that bracelet and kissed her at the Christmas dinner."

All of the guys froze with looks of shock on their faces. Jimin looked at JK then at Yoongi, "Hyung, you bought her a bracelet?! And you kissed her?!"

"Shhh!" Yoongi looked around to make sure no one was listening, he lowered his voice as he continued. "Yes, I kissed her, and she actually kissed me again right after that." He gave them a cocky grin. "You could say it was pretty serious." He leaned back in his chair and slung his arm over the back of it.

Jin was laughing at Yoongi's laid back attitude, considering just a few seconds ago he sounded like a whiny kid who got the wrong flavored ice cream. "What bracelet did you get her?"

Yoongi explained the bracelet and the charms, and the meanings behind each one. The guys all sat back in their chairs in unison and exclaimed, "OH! Yeah, that's good." Yoongi nodded his head in agreement, "You see?! So I did sort of tell her how I feel. Sorta."

"But Hyung, you still have to formally ask her out and make it official. If you don't say those words, Alex will constantly be confused about what you two are and how you feel." RM was feeling the effects of the alcohol, so his filter was slipping. He looked down at the table before he continued, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but, Alex had a rough go in past relationships. She keeps her heart close and protects it. You need to reassure her of your feelings and what she means to you, or she'll never let you in all the way."

"Yeah," Jungkook sat up in his seat, "Nuna thinks you are too good for her. She doesn't have confidence in herself, or believe your feelings for her are true."

Yoongi's eyebrows drew down as he stared into his drink. "You mean, I think I'm not good enough for her, and she thinks she's not good enough for me?"

"Exactly!" J-Hope had been staring at the table as the guys talked. Alcohol hit him hard and fast. "You need to show her what she means to you so she believes in herself. When you do that, you'll see how much she cares for you, then you'll believe in yourself!"

Yoongi realized how bad he had been messing things up all along. He was going to have to tell her how he felt or she would continue having these inadequate feelings about herself. He couldn't let that happen. Not with the way he felt about her and how much she meant to him. "OK then, I know what I have to do!" He slammed his drink down and poured another. The guys all stared back at him expecting him to continue. He looked around at their faces, "What?"

Jimin put his head down and shook it in dismay, "What are you going to do to show Alex how you feel?"

"Oh, that." Yoongi waved his hand in the air to brush his question away. He pointed to his head, "I've got it all up here."

Hobi leaned over to RM and said under his breath, "That's what I'm afraid of."

RM's shoulders were shaking from laughter, "I agree, we'll keep an eye on him and step in to help if we need to."

They continued pouring drinks and the mood lightened as the night went on.

________

Alex had had an amazing time with her family for Christmas, but it was time to head back to South Korea. Her flight was getting in late Friday night, but the guys thought she wasn't coming back until the next day. She was hoping to surprise all of them with coffee the next morning.

When she landed, she pulled out her phone to text the them.

Hi! Are you guys free to meet tomorrow morning?

You back already?! We thought you wouldn't late tomorrow.

Surprise! I'm back early.

Have you been drinking? 🤭

Nuna, I think you need to come get Yoongi.

Why, what's wrong?

May have gotten him a little drunk 🤏

More like a lot drunk

Oh dear

Where are you guys, I'll be right there

Alex hopped in a cab and gave the address. She had no idea what she was walking into but she knew how they could all be when they were drinking. This was about to get interesting.