<OST: I Wanna Say To You - Suzy>
"That was so... admirable."
"Hm?" Chungha looked up, surprised that Hoseok was talking to her once more, especially amidst the fireworks show that had just begun.
"Jungkook-ssi and Jieun-noona..." Hoseok had a dreamy look as he glanced at the happy couple on stage. "They... they're really brave for this."
"I agree." Chungha pursed her lips, hesitating for a short while before continuing. "Hoseok-oppa."
"Hm?"
"I never really say it a lot..." Chungha admitted as she reached out and held on to Hoseok's hand. "But you know how much you mean to me, don't you?"
Hoseok glanced at her, a slightly puzzled look on his face. "I mean, yeah... but why are you-"
"You were really upset me just now," Chungha explained. "I could tell."
"Oh... that?" Hoseok tried to laugh it off. "Nah... actually, I'm not that mad-"
"You were."
"I was," Hoseok admitted almost immediately, the smile disappearing from his face as he shrugged a little. "But it's okay - I'm okay. I'm used to it."
"And that's not okay."
Hoseok glanced up at Chungha.
"That's not okay, oppa-" Chungha scooted a little closer to him. "I'm so insensitive sometimes, and that's not okay."
"No, really-" Hoseok laughed as he tried to console her. "I'm okay, so you should be fine too. I'm the sensitive one... and there's really no need for you to have to deal with my mood swings."
"It's not a mood swing," Chungha said quietly. "You're right, I should have told you if I knew they were dating - it's something I overlooked... and I'm sorry."
"Look-" Hoseok let out a small laugh. "See? Now that you verbalised it, it sounds so petty. It doesn't even sound like something anyone would get that upset over. But yet... I am upset."
"And that doesn't make your feelings invalid, you know?" Chungha sighed. "It may seem to other people who don't know us well that you're just making a fuss, and that you're just being emotional and sensitive... but I know that's not the case. I know you're not just upset over this incident alone, but you just took it as a chance to express your frustration regarding my attitude towards you in general."
"Ah..." Hoseok hesitated. "Actually, you might be right."
"Right...?" Chungha bit her lower lip. "I knew it."
Hoseok nodded silently.
"I think it's funny how the tables have really turned in our relationship-" Chungha pointed out. "I remember that back in the days, you used to be the insensitive one and I was the one always telling you that I was upset over certain things you did or said... Well, now our roles have completely swapped."
"Come to think of it, you're right."
"And back then, we couldn't resolve our conflicts because you thought I was too sensitive-" Chungha pointed out. "And I always thought you were being too inconsiderate of my emotions, you remember?"
"Of course I do."
"Then let's not make the same mistake, oppa-" Chungha smiled as she squeezed Hoseok's hand in hers. "They say couples who get back together often breakup for the second time for the same reason... so let's not let that happen to us. And for that not to happen... open communication is so important - I want you to tell me whenever you're upset, and I'll try my best to change. In turn, I'll do the same, okay...?"
"Okay," Hoseok said with a small smile. "Open communication is key - I won't find you insensitive, so don't find me too sensitive too, alright?"
"Right-" Chungha giggled. "So tell me - what else did I not tell you about that you wanted to know...?"
"Who ate my last cookie in the fridge?"
Chungha laughed. "It was me."
"I freaking knew it-" Hoseok groaned. "Then what about... who else in the office is dating?"
"Other than you and I, there's Hyejin-ssi and bujang-nim..." Chungha thought for a while. "I think Jisoo-ssi is seeing a guy outside in secret. Daniel-ssi and Jihyo-ssi also seem to have something going on."
"Daebak..." Hoseok gasped. "I never would have guessed..."
"That's because you're kinda slow, to be honest."
Hoseok furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm what?"
"I'm just kidding-" Chungha laughed as she punched Hoseok playfully in the arm. "But this is all I know. Don't ask me for any more information - I'm not a gossip channel, alright?"
"Alright-" Hoseok laughed and nodded as he picked up his camera once more. "Anyway, let's get back to work - we still have an article to publish."
"Been about time, don't you think?" Hyejin, who was standing right next to them, hardcarrying the whole team, let out a loud sigh. "I've been standing here feeling like the third-wheel for the past ten minutes, listening to you two sort out your relationship problems."
"Okay, we're sorry-" Chungha laughed as she swung her arms around Hyejin and Hoseok. "Next time, bring your boyfriend to join us or something - we can have a double date news reporting session."
"Please-" Hyejin scoffed loudly. "That guy can't even stand noise."
"He can't...?" Hoseok grinned. "Well, that's another thing added to my list of things I can irritate him with."
"If you don't mind me saying this-" Hyejin peered over at Hoseok. "I think you're top on the list, sunbae-nim."
Hoseok gasped. "Me-?"
The girls burst into laughter at Hoseok's displeasure.
"Ah, I really love working with you guys-" Chungha exclaimed, as she picked up her laptop and began to type. "Seriously, I love it."
"Same here-" Hyejin beamed as she filmed the fireworks in the sky. "I'm glad I finally found something that I have passion and confidence in."
"I guess everyone is different," Hoseok commented, full of insights as he glanced up at the sky. "That's why there are so many jobs in this world - some people prefer to stand on stage, in the spotlight; meanwhile others prefer to work behind the scenes. But all of us, in whatever we do, as long as we enjoy what we're doing and manage to find our confidence... we're able to all shine just as bright. Let's go on like this for a long time, Chungha-ya, Hyejin-ah."
Chungha and Hyejin exchanged smiles.
"Mm."
"Let's work together like this for a long time."
-•-•-
The whole sky lit up with fireworks at the end of the very eventful night. Jennie and Yoongi sat at a distance away, watching the night sky light up in many different colours. They hadn't spoken much since they had left the concert hall earlier on, but now that the silence was broken, they began to speak to each other again.
"Wah..." Jennie exclaimed as her eyes sparkled with the reflection of the fireworks. "So pretty..."
Yoongi glanced at Jennie, admiring the fireworks through her eyes, a small smile playing at his lips the whole time. "Mmhmm... so pretty indeed."
At this moment, Jennie glanced down at Yoongi and their eyes met, and she smiled.
"I wonder how things are going inside."
"It'll work out well, for sure-" Yoongi commented nonchalantly. "I think Jungkook probably settled it well... if not, there wouldn't be any fireworks show, would there?"
"Well, it could very well be a distraction-" Jennie suggested, but let out a small chuckle as well. "You're literally the most chill boss I have ever seen."
"That's because I'm not a boss," Yoongi reiterated. "I'm just someone here to help you all achieve your dreams."
It was silent for a while as the two focused on watching the fireworks show.
"You were so amazing earlier." The words just slipped off Yoongi's lips after a few moments of silence. "So brave, so amazing."
Jennie burst into laughter. "I was shaking."
"I know, I saw-" Yoongi laughed as he glanced up in the sky once more, watching the dark night sky being lit up in different colours of light. "But you still pushed through... I must say I'm really impressed."
Jennie giggled as she raised her eyes to the sky once more. "Thank you."
It was silent for a while between them, other than the occasional squeals from Jennie from how beautiful the night sky was. But the whole time, Yoongi wasn't looking at the sky. He was looking at her.
"Jennie."
Jennie was distracted by the fireworks. "Hm?"
"Be mine."
There was an awkward pause as Jennie froze at the exact position she was, before slowly and very stiffly turning her neck to look at him. Her eyebrows raised and her eyes glassy - she evidently wasn't sure if she had heard him right or not.
"Huh...?" Jennie let out an awkward chuckle, trying to conceal how nervous she clearly was. "What did you say, oppa? I don't think I heard you correctly."
"I said-" Yoongi leaned in and whispered into Jennie's ear so that she could hear him properly this time, over the loud sizzling sounds of the eruption of fireworks. "Be mine, Jennie Kim. And in turn, I'll be yours."
Jennie backed away quickly, staring at Yoongi blankly in the eyes. "I thought..."
"Mm, I thought so too-" Yoongi agreed before he could even hear what Jennie thought - he already knew. "But I guess now's finally the time to challenge my fears. If it's with you, I feel like... I'm no longer afraid of what the future holds."
Jennie just stared at him, unable to believe her ears.
"You didn't just teach me what to do with words, like what most people do-" Yoongi carried on, as he held her by her hands. "Instead, you showed me, you demonstrated to me what to do with your actions. You taught me what it was like to be brave, to always challenge yourself and how to always look forward in whatever you do. You taught me how to dream bug and fight for what I want. You yourself struggle with so much, yet you never once left my side - you were always right beside me, cheering me on, teaching me how to become a better person. You are so, so strong, Jennie Kim. You are stronger than anyone out there knows. At first, I tried my best to ignore you. I tried my best to tell myself that as long as I didn't catch feelings, nothing could hurt me. I was wrong - your existence was so healing. Slowly, the more I interacted with you, I slowly began to cry less and smile more. Smiling soon turned to laughing and laughing soon turned to looking forward to living - something I never had in a long, long time. Your mere existence has become so important to me over the past year that I almost forgot what life was like before I met you. You make me want to become a better person everyday... and I think that's what makes me so drawn to you."
Jennie just stared, her mouth agape.
"Do you have nothing to say...?" Yoongi let out an embarrassed chuckle. "I already said so much though...?"
"No, I just-" Jennie slapped herself to her senses. "I just feel like I'm in a dream right now - I've dreamt of this day too many times for me to remember. I- I just- I'm literally shaking right now."
Yoongi could feel her hands trembling in his and couldn't help but smile at how freaking precious she was.
"I tried my best to express my thoughts as best as I could-" Yoongi admitted with a shy laugh. "I know it isn't perfect, but I've been trying hard, Jennie-ya. I've been constantly working hard to be more honest with my feelings every day. So... how was it? Was I expressive enough?"
"It was perfect," Jennie half-whispered, with emotional tears in her eyes. "It was the best confession I could ever ask for. Wait- that was your confession, was it...? Or did I interpret that wrongly again-"
"No, it was-" Yoongi giggled as he held on tightly to her. "That was my confession, Jennie-ya. That was me asking you if you'd be my girlfriend."
"When do you need my answer by?"
Yoongi was stunned by Jennie's response. "Oh, do you need a while to think about it? If that's the case, how long do you need? You can take as much time as you want-"
"What about now?"
Jennie grinned as she leaned forward and planted a light peck on Yoongi's lips, causing him to back away, his face looking slightly horrified as his hands flew up instinctively.
"That's my answer, Min Yoongi-" Jennie said shyly as she looked away, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear out of her face. "I've waited for you for so long, liking you since forever... do you really think I haven't had enough time to think it through...?"
Yoongi just stared at her, wide-eyed, fingers still pressed gently over his lips.
"Ya, why are you looking at me like that!" Jennie burst into laughter as she pulled Yoongi's hand away from his lips. "You make it look like I just took advantage of you or something. Excuse me, sir - you were literally the one who asked me to be your girlf-"
Yoongi was the one who leaned forward in one swift action and planted a longer, more impactful kiss on Jennie's lips this time.
Jennie looked giddy with happiness. "Woah."
"Mm-" Yoongi's eyes darted around nervously as he bit his lower lip, nodding for no reason as he backed away, looking giddy with excitement. "Mm."
Jennie watched him for a long time, a smile slowly spreading across her face as she did so.
"Min Yoongi, I'm in trouble."
Yoongi looked up briefly, but looked away the moment their eyes met, blushing furiously. "Hm? What is it?"
"I'm in deep trouble-" Jennie swallowed hard. "I don't think I'll ever stop liking you."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore-" Yoongi smiled as he looked down at Jennie's hand in his and slowly placed it on his heart. "You feel my heart...? How fast it's racing right now...? You already have my heart, Kim Jennie. It's not you and me from now... it's us. Regardless of whatever fears we may face - the media, the fans, our psychological barriers, our traumas, our biggest stresses... we can face it head on together as one from now on. From this point onwards, it's us - we're on one team... and you don't ever have to stop liking me."
And under the colourful exploding lights in the night sky, Jennie only had eyes for him.
"Us..." A smile crept onto Jennie's face as she rested her head onto Yoongi's shoulder. "I like that."