BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 41: the tremendous tomato tussle

"I will-" Jieun frowned as she patted the sweat off Jungkook's forehead. "You just have too much sweat right now I can't even do your makeup yet."

"I have sweat here too-" Jungkook pointed at his arm. "Help me wipe it well."

Jieun did as she was told.

"Here too-" Jungkook pointed at his neck.

Jieun wiped it off as well.

"Here too-"

"Here too-"

"Here too-"

"Tsk-" Jieun finally looked up at Jungkook, shoving the packet of tissue into his hands. "Wipe it on your own."

Jungkook grinned as he did what he was told. Jennie watched the two from a distance, a cheeky smile playing at her lips.

-•-•-

"Jieun-ssi, so... you've been working with us for more than a week now, how do you feel?"

"Hm?" Jieun looked up at Seokjin with a smile. "Good, I just find it hard to interact with JK-ssi sometimes. You know how he's warm at times, then suddenly he gets cold... and that scares me."

"Ah, yes-" Seokjin chuckled as he glanced at Jieun through the rear-view mirror. "He can be a bit of a prick at times, but when you get to know him, he's not that bad. Like, just a little better. Look at me, I've survived by his side for more than five years now."

"Excuse me?" Jungkook frowned as he glanced at Jieun, who was seated right next to him. "I'm literally right here?"

"See? When he speaks like that, it's scary sometimes-" Jieun grinned. "Anyway, I'm glad I moved. Now, I'll have a ride home whenever I'm on duty."

"It worked out well then-" Seokjin glanced at Jungkook through the mirror. "If you're sure that won't escape halfway, then maybe you can let your unnie know that she should convince her landlady to take you back. At least you can have a place to return to sometimes, you know? I know how strict some places are with rental."

Jieun frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"What are you saying, Seokjin-hyung?" Jungkook gave Seokjin a dirty look through the mirror. "I'm sure Jieun-ssi's landlady had a good reason to rent it out to someone. Maybe higher rent... or something."

Jieun narrowed her eyes. "And how did you know that?"

"Isn't that the basics?" Jungkook pursed his lips and closed his eyes. "It'd make sense for anyone to choose the tenant that offers a higher rent. So don't be ridiculous, Seokjin-hyung. Unless Jieun-ssi offers a higher rent than... that person, she won't get her room back."

Seokjin muttered under his breath as he frustratedly hit the steering wheel with one hand. "Damn it."

Jieun was getting more and more suspicious by the second. "What did you say?"

"He didn't say anything, Jieun-ssi," Jungkook waved his hand in the air. "Hyung, focus on driving. Jieun-ssi, I wanna take a nap. Please help me."

Jieun frowned.

Something was definitely amiss.