BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 53: one step closer

"Bujang-" Chungha said as she bit her lower lip nervously. "It's definitely not what it looks like. I made a bet with Hoseok-oppa a week or two ago, and we betted on whether Jieun-ssi or Hyejin-ssi would make it on TV first. As you probably would have noticed, I chose Jieun-ssi while Hoseok-oppa chose Hyejin-ssi."

Namjoon pursed his lips. "Carry on."

"As we all know, Hyejin-ssi made it on TV first and I lost the bet-" Chungha nodded slowly, glancing in Namjoon's direction to make sure he didn't look upset or anything. "His wish was that I wouldn't drink your milk tea for a month, so that's precisely what I did. I had to keep to my promise, you know."

"And so... you gave it to him?"

Hoseok frowned.

"Mm-" Chungha nodded as she glanced at Hoseok. "He wanted it, and I thought that giving it to someone else is better than letting it go down the drain. That's why I let him have it."

A small smile played at Namjoon's lips as he nodded slowly. "Is the bet just that you can't drink the milk tea I buy for you?"

"Mm."

"I see-" Namjoon thought for a while. "In that case, Chungha-ssi, what is your favourite food?"

Chungha frowned. "Why?"

"Just tell me."

"Well..." Chungha hesitated. "Tteokbokki."

"In that case... I'll buy you tteokbokki from now-" Namjoon said with a smile. "A bet is a bet, and I understand that you have to keep it. So I guess you won't be receiving milk tea from me for a month. Instead, you can have tteokbokki."

Hoseok's jaw dropped.

Chungha's jaw dropped as well. "Bujang-"

"That I will only get for you if the tteokbokki lady messes up my order-" Namjoon excused himself. "Also, if anything like this happens in the future, I'd like it if you told me from the beginning."

"I understand, bujang-" Chungha pouted. "I was just afraid that I'd offend you..."

"Telling me is way better than simply accepting it and giving it to someone else." Namjoon shrugged. "I hope you can communicate such things to me openly in the future."

Chungha thought for a while, before nodding slowly. "You're right, bujang. I'm sorry about that."

"No need to apologise, it's nothing big-" Namjoon dismissed the issue with a kind smile. "See you guys then."

"Please go home safely, bujang!"

Hoseok gave Chungha a stink-eye as Namjoon walked off, while Chungha stared daggers back at him.

"Oh, one more thing-" Namjoon turned back once more, and Hoseok and Chungha smiled brightly at him once more. "Chungha-ssi, is your schedule next Friday night free?"

Chungha nodded as she took out her scheduling notebook. "Yes, bujang. Is there anything you need me to do?"

"It's not for work."

Hoseok blinked rapidly.

"It's not for work...?" Chungha slowly put down the notebook on her table once more. "What is it about then?"

"I wanna have dinner with you, is that okay?"

Hoseok dropped the empty cup in his hands, as he glanced at Chungha, hoping that she'd say no. Instead, a small smile spread across her face.

"Why not?"

-•-•-

"Oh, you're back."