BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 24: insatiable ramen cravings

"What is it?"

"I'm still suspicious of her."

"Well-" Seokjin nodded. "I should have seen that coming."

"Even as a bystander, don't you think she's a little suspicious too?" Jungkook asked. "Almost like... she has a motive to come near me. You remember what she asked me in the car that day?"

"About how you met Jennie-ssi?"

"Yeah."

"You answered her well back then, didn't you?"

"I did, but that's not the point-" Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. "I spoke to Jennie Kim before she left, she said she asked her the exact same question earlier that day, when I was on stage doing my showcase."

Seokjin gasped. "No way."

"You don't think... she could be a detective or something, could she?"

Seokjin stared at Jungkook for a few seconds, before he burst into laughter. "Her? A detective? With how clumsy and bad at talking she is? I mean, if she was a detective, I'm sure she'd try to keep a lower profile or something."

"That's true-" But Jungkook couldn't shake the thought from his head. "But I can't help but still be wary of her, especially after hearing what Jennie told me..."

"It's just in your nature to doubt people, Jungkook-ah," Seokjin said as he patted Jungkook on the shoulder. "But just like how I'll never betray you, I'm sure there are many people in your life who are worthy of your trust as well. You just have to keep a look out for them. Jieun-ie is harmless - all I can see is just a young ambitious woman who has a burning passion for makeup, that's all."

"Hyung-" Jungkook said abruptly. "You know what scares me the most?"

Seokjin shook his head. "What? Lies?"

"I do hate lies-" Jungkook admitted with a small nod. "But it's people that I'm the most afraid of. People are the ones who tell the lies, people are the ones capable of harming me. To me, people are like monsters."

It was silent for a while.

"You're right, people are scary indeed-" Seokjin agreed with a nod. "But Jungkook-ah, not all people are monsters. If we're talking about Lee Jieun in particular, I've checked her profile before - she only has had education in Beauty & Cosmetics - nothing else. Just like everyone else, you can be wary of her, but there's no need to be overly suspicious, okay?"

Jungkook pursed his lips and nodded slowly. "Okay."

Seokjin took a deep breath, patted Jungkook's shoulder and went back to his phone, a solid frown appearing on his face once more.

"Why did you look so mad this morning, hyung?" Jungkook asked quietly. "Did something happen?"

"Hm?" Seokjin looked up at Jungkook, forced a chuckle and shook his head. "Mm, nah. It's nothing, Jungkook-ah. Nothing to worry you about, anyway."

"You've always listened to my problems-" Jungkook said with a small smile. "You know I'm more than willing to listen to yours too, right?"

Seokjin nodded and managed a smile as he reached over and patted Jungkook on the shoulder once more. "Mm. Thanks, Jungkook-ah. I'll let you know if I need anything."

-•-•-

Byulyi sat at her computer, brainstorming a new chapter of her novel.

"She went to meet JK's manager at his company... then what was she doing before that?" Byulyi frowned. "Was she working? What happened at work though? Ah- I need to ask her later-"