<OST: eight - IU ft. SUGA>
"Ah..." Jieun pursed her lips. "So Jennie decided to leave the company... what about you? What are you gonna do from now?"
"I admit that after I left, in the car, I was thinking a lot about what she did and said to him..." Jungkook admitted. "And it did cross my mind... if I should do the same."
"Leave the company too?"
"Mmhmm," Jungkook hummed. "Right now, there's really not much reason left to stay. I already have to pay the dating contract violation fee anyway... why not just go all out and pay the contract termination fee as well, am I right?"
Jieun let out a small giggle. "Hey, you know that literally makes no sense."
"I know-" Jungkook sniggered. "But I'm just saying, it was a passing thought, you know?"
"And I get why you'd think that," Jieun said with a frown. "Your company hasn't been the nicest to you at all, am I right? They have been overwhelming you, even when you have insomnia... they seem to hardly bother... it must be tough, all these years. You still have over a year left to your contract, so if you can't handle it anymore... the best decision would be to leave. But have you ever thought of what you'd do after you left BG Entertainment?"
"The same stuff, definitely-" Jungkook said without any hesitation. "I'm in this music career for life - I love it way too much to let go."
"Then... I really think you should stay," Jieun said quietly. "To pay off your contract termination fees, you'll definitely need to take up loans, JK. And after leaving BG Entertainment, you'll be in a slump got a while. It'll be impossible to get back on track immediately, so it'll be hard to recover the losses as well."
"But BG Entertainment is crumbling as well..." Jungkook sighed loudly. "I don't know if I'll do better here than anywhere out there."
Jieun thought for a while. "Keep your decision on hold in the meantime then, Jungkook-ah. Maybe you should talk to Jennie... and decide what would be the best thing to do moving forward."
Jungkook sounded extremely stressed. "I guess so..."
"Okay, let's forget about that for now!" Jieun tried her best to make herself sound chirpy. "Other than the press conference, how was your day today?"
"It was alright," Jungkook said without any hesitation. "I just miss you a lot."
Jieun pursed her lips, thinking for a while. "Should I go over and see you then?"
"Mm... maybe not, for now-" Jungkook said quietly. "It's just that all this just happened and though I really wish I could see you face-to-face right now... I think we should avoid meeting each other for the time being."
"Oh... right."
"I feel so sorry, what should I do?" Jungkook exhaled heavily. "I wanna meet you so badly too, yet I can only hear your voice through the phone... Like you said, this really isn't something anyone should have to go through - especially on your end. I'm so sorry, Jieun-ah - I'm so sorry that you have to go through all this trouble for dating me. If you were dating someone else, you would be able to see him any time you want."
"Shh, stop it-" Jieun clucked her tongue agitatedly. "Hey, don't say that - I chose you, Jeon Jungkook. I knew what I was in for, coming right into this. I chose you, and I'll never regret choosing you. So stop apologising, okay?"
Jungkook was still in self-blame. "Maybe I should never have dragged you into this mess from the very beginning, then you wouldn't have to go through all this for my sake-"
"Cut it out, shh-" Jieun hissed. "Why are you saying stuff like that? Are you having second thoughts about dating me? Do you not... Am I not... Am I not worth your effort or-"
"No, definitely not!" Jungkook clarified at once. "That's definitely not what I meant. I'm willing to fight for you, Jieun-ah, I'm just worried that you-"
"Then that's good enough," Jieun said softly. "We went through so much to get together, Jeon Jungkook. So if you don't let go of my hand, there's no way I'm letting go of yours. All this will just be temporary - it will all pass sooner or later. We'll overcome it all together, hand in-hand, you hear me?"
There was a long pause.
Jieun swallowed uneasily, as a lump formed in her throat. "Promise you'll never break up with me over this, JK. Please... I really cannot do without you."
"I can't do without you either, Jieun-ah," Jungkook finally said, his mind finally made up. "For your sake and for mine, I'll fight even harder. Don't you worry - I love you way too much to ever break up with you."
I love you, those three words that Jungkook had never said to her. Finally, they were out there in the open, albeit being put in a really casual way. Jieun found herself thinking that perhaps this was the only silver lining in the otherwise extremely sucky situation.
"I love you too," Jieun whispered back with a soft smile. "I love you so much, Jeon Jungkook."
-•-•-
"Peekaboo!"
"Ah, I'm surprised it's you-" Yoongi said with a straight face as he opened his door to Jennie later that night. "Come on in."
Jennie flashed Yoongi a troubled grin as she followed him inside his apartment, spotting the empty bag of takeout on the table.
"You're back to eating takeout again?" Jennie nagged with a frown. "I already told you that delivery food isn't good for you... you should be eating well right now, especially during filming..."
"I just felt like eating it, don't worry-" Yoongi said as he hurriedly cleared the table. "It's completely fine to eat such things once in a while. And besides... we haven't been able to film much at all."
"That's true." Jennie bit her lower lip as she helped Yoongi clear the table. "Mm... I haven't seen you all day because I've been... kinda busy. But I was just wondering... do you have anything to say to me?"
Yoongi didn't even glance up at her as he scrubbed vigorously at the metal utensils he had used. "Am I supposed to say anything to you?"
Jennie remained silent as she stood by Yoongi's side, quietly watching him scrub at the utensils. Finally, after Yoongi was done, he took off his rubber gloves and turned to face Jennie.
"You did well," Yoongi put it simply. "I cannot imagine how much courage it must have taken for you to stand on that stage and say all that. I'm just... really proud of you. Good job, Jennie-ya."
Jennie had to physically resist the urge of leaping right into his arms, as she fought to keep a straight face.
"Really?" Jennie tried her best not to squeal. "You really think I did a good job?"
"No, a great job-" Yoongi said with a smile as he patted Jennie's head fondly. "You did really well."
"Hm..." Jennie lowered her head and broke out into a fully bright and contented smile. "Thanks. Do you know who thought of-"
"Your idea was brilliant," Yoongi said with a smile. "I read the whole transcript of the press conference... it was executed perfectly too."
"You did...?" Jennie beamed. "Ah... I'm glad."
"Why did the conference get cut off all of a sudden though?" Yoongi frowned as he washed his hands and wiped it dry on a towel. "I watched a livestream of it and there was a struggle at the end, I couldn't see anything after. A few other livestreams had the same problem, too. Did anything happen?"
"I got pulled off the stage..." Jennie admitted as she walked over to the couch. "And summoned to our sajang-nim's office immediately."
Yoongi gasped as he took a seat opposite Jennie. "What did he say?"
"He was really mad-" Jennie shrugged. "Understandably though - the company stocks were falling and everything... and everyone was bombarding the company for an explanation."
"So what did you do?"
"I..." Jennie pursed her lips as she glanced up at Yoongi nervously. "Actually... I quit."
Yoongi blinked a few times, trying to register what he had just heard. "You... quit?"
"Yeah."
"You set a fire and then you just left?"
"Mmhmm."
"Left everyone behind, struggling to stay alive?"
"Well, if you're gonna put it that way..." Jennie shrugged and nodded. "Yeah, I did."
"Wow."
Jennie lowered her head. "I know. It's okay, you can say it. I know I'm being really irresponsib-"
"That's a smart choice."
Jennie looked up in surprise. "What?"
"That's a really smart decision," Yoongi said with a smile. "You thought well, Jennie-ya."
"Huh? But I don't get it-" Jennie frowned. "Don't you think I was being irresponsible and selfish?"
"For what?"
"In your own words-" Jennie recalled. "Setting a fire and then leaving everyone behind, struggling to stay alive."
"No-" Yoongi narrowed his eyes. "I mean, yeah, I guess, in a sense... but not really. And like also, that doesn't change the fact that it's a smart move on your part."
Jennie raised her eyebrows. "Care to elaborate?"
"Because finally you're doing something for your own happiness instead of others?" Yoongi pointed out. "Finally, you no longer have someone else in control of helping you make your own life decisions. That was a smart, and really brave, move again."
Jennie grinned.
"And sure, you may think it's your fault that the staff in BG Entertainment are probably going to suffer from the decision you made..." Yoongi shrugged. "But if you think about it, you're just taking back the right you originally deserved. It was never your responsibility to care for the rest of the company - it was your boss' responsibility, one that he never did fulfil. So if there is anyone that is to blame for the state of your company right now... it's him."
Jennie stared at Yoongi in awe. "I never even thought of it from that perspective..."
"But I'm right, ain't I?" Yoongi raised his eyebrows. "So... really, you don't have to feel bad at all."
Jennie nodded with a smile. "Mm."
Yoongi saw Jennie's grin and smiled a little to himself as well.
"Hey, but-" Yoongi hesitated. "That means you broke a grand total of two contracts... won't you have a lot to pay your company?"
"You're right..." Jennie let out a small sigh. "It's understandable though, I have to pay the price for my own actions."
Yoongi pursed his lips. "But... isn't that a lot of money? How much will it be, roughly?"
"Hm... let me see..." Jennie furrowed her eyebrows, trying to do some mental calculations. "It adds up to almost... woah, I really can't math. But it basically adds up to how much the company has spent on me, and how much they lost from this whole scandal. So... probably a lot."
"1 billion Korean won?"
Jennie nodded slowly. "Probably around there."
"And how are you gonna get your hands on that much money?"
"I'm gonna have to borrow around first," Jennie said with a little sigh. "I have no choice honestly, but I rather pay up than to spend a second more at that horrid company. But don't worry, oppa. I'll eventually be able to work my way out of this situation - the only thing is... how long it'll take."
Yoongi looked unsure of what Jennie was saying.
"I'm serious!" Jennie laughed as she hit Yoongi on the shoulder playfully. "You'll see what I mean tomorrow."
Yoongi frowned. "What's happening tomorrow?"
Jennie shrugged as she rose to her feet and headed towards the door. "You'll see. Anyway, tomorrow's gonna be a long day for me... I better leave now. I'll see you soon, okay?"
Yoongi watched Jennie leave his house, a confused look etched across his face.
-•-•-
Jungkook woke up to absolute hell the next day.
"Jeon Jungkook, wake up!" Seokjin yanked the blanket off Jungkook's blanket and shoved the tablet into his hands. "You won't believe this."
"Wha...?" Jungkook rubbed his eyes sleepily, still half-asleep. He looked up at Seokjin, down at the tablet in his hands, then back up at Seokjin once more. "Huh...? What... Why...? Hyung..."
"I can't believe that girl, seriously-" Seokjin pulled at his hair, looking like he was going out of his mind. "She pulled that stunt yesterday and now, she's doing this without even consulting us? What's her problem? Is she really that senseless or..."
Jungkook frowned as he looked down at the tablet in his hands once more and pressed play with no more hesitation.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Jennie Kim - an actress from BG Entertainment."
Jungkook held on tightly to the tablet, watching the notifications pour in of various articles that were being published about Jennie in real time. At the corner of his eye, Jungkook also spotted Seokjin slip out of the room to pick up his phone. And that's when he knew... Jennie had really said something revolutionary - something that was about to turn the country upside down.
"I am sorry that I am appearing to you like this," Jennie said as she gestured around her apartment, which still technically belonged to Jungkook. "In my apartment, dressed in my own home clothes, barely wearing any makeup at all - I just... I just really wanted to be real with all of you today."
Jungkook could hardly breathe.
"I'm sure many of you have seen articles about me and my labelmate, k-pop soloist Jeon Jungkook, at the press conference yesterday," Jennie continued after a short dramatic pause. "At that conference, I said something that raised many eyebrows across the country - that is, that Jeon Jungkook and I had never ever dated."
Jungkook was nervous, clueless about what she was about to say next.
"We were instantly rushed out of the press conference then, being silenced at once-" Jennie sighed loudly as she stared directly into the camera. "But in actual fact, I still had more things to say - I wasn't done at all. And that's why, behind my company's back, I have decided to film this video today. And I sincerely hope that this video will be able to give everyone a clearer picture of what has been happening behind-the-scenes of BG Entertainment over the past year - or rather, past few years. I will try my best to keep it as short and concise as possible, so please try to stay with me."
Jungkook let out an audible gasp. In that moment, he knew that she was about to spill some very hot tea on that very day.
"My company made JK and I sign a contract in around November last year," Jennie jumped right into the topic right away. "A fake dating contract that lasted for a year." Jennie let out a dry laugh. "Ridiculous? Yeah, Jungkook and I thought so as well. We both hated the idea of it. Lying to our fans? Telling them that we were dating when we barely even knew each other? Why should we? These were just some thoughts that passed through our minds during that period of time."
Jungkook nodded in agreement as he watched on.
"Our sajang-nim insisted that we follow through," Jennie continued, shaking her head regretfully. "He said that at our then level of popularity, a scandal like this would boost our popularity. We were both still cynical and did not like what he was proposing... and kept rejecting his requests. That was the exact moment he started to threaten us.
"I don't know what it was like for Jungkook but for me personally, at that time, I was working on a small drama project. It wasn't huge, as I was still starting out that time... but for me back then, it was one of the biggest opportunities I had ever gotten. I still remember being so excited over it... practising over and over again and perfecting the few lines I had. But all this... only to be called a week before, being told by my manager-oppa that our sajang-nim has given the job over to one of my hoobaes instead. I don't think it was just by coincidence that that particular hoobae was Yang sajang-nim's niece.
"I went to confront him immediately. He told me not to blame him, since I was the one who refused to concede to his requests. He promised me that if I agreed, my popularity would skyrocket and therefore, he'd be comfortable with me handling that role. And he also promised me more and more roles, more CFs moving forward - he promised to finally treat me how I thought I deserved to be treated as an artist of the company. Back then, I knew in my head that if I was going to reject him, I'd be thrown into cold storage for the rest of the time I still had left at BG Entertainment - more than two whole years.
"I believe Jungkook has a similar story as well, but I'll leave his story for him to tell... if he wants to. We both eventually signed the contract some time last year December, and intentionally got paparazzis to take pictures of us to be distributed across all of South Korea. Those days were one of the darkest times in my life - I felt so conflicted everyday, like I was committing the worst crime anyone could possibly commit - yes, doing all that made me feel like a criminal. I lived every single day carefully, trying to keep the secret and keep up the act - which has been far from easy.
"Jungkook and I have become close friends after overcoming this whole ordeal together. We bonded over our wounds and got closer through our pure hatred for our company. Saying all this, I'm not trying to point fingers away from us - I'm just trying to shed light on the truth, the truth that everyone so badly wants to hear. Nevertheless, I still want to own up to my faults - that I still was part of a big picture that fooled everyone. For that, I sincerely apologise. I have since decided to part ways with BG Entertainment as of yesterday, November 18, 2020. I hope that I will be able to show you new, better sides of me soon, thank you. This is Jennie Kim signing off."
Jungkook was speechless for a whole minute after the video clip ended.