Taehyung was brought to a conference room on the third floor.
Manager Ok pushed open the door and gestured him to go in. Taehyung felt that there was something odd about the whole situation but before he could make sense of what was going on, Manager Ok suddenly gave him a gentle push. Just like that, he was pushed into the room.
"I just remembered that I still have something on. I'll head off first. You two have a good chat." On saying this, Manager Ok did not even give Taehyung a chance to react before he closed the door with a thud.
"Hey..." Taehyung was baffled.
He turned and swept his eyes across the conference room.
The room was square and rather large. With its simple furnishing, the entire room felt extremely spacious. In the middle was a conference table and at the end of this table was a French window. Its grey curtains were drawn open and through the clear window panes, one could see an open space with trees and pedestrians.
In front of the French window was a black executive chair. A person was sitting on this chair.
Right now, this person sat facing the French window, leaving Taehyung with a back view of his head.
How pretentious. Taehyung silently scoffed in his heart.
"Hi," Taehyung called out.
The chair slowly, slowly turned before it finally faced him.
That person was wearing a white tracksuit and had short hair that did not reach past his ears. As he was back facing the sunlight shining in from the window, his face could not be seen that. However, Taehyung took one look and was slightly stunned for a moment. He thought this guy is really good-looking!
His face was fair with well-defined and symmetric features. He also had a piercing gaze and the way he held himself was clean, poised, and confident.
He was sitting there quietly while basking in the sunlight, looking as if he was surrounded by a warm golden halo. The scene gave one the same feeling as viewing an oil painting—gentle, refined, and somewhat inexplicable.
Taehyung repeated herself, "Hi."
He briefly acknowledged Taehyung's greeting with an "mm". In an unhurried tone, he asked, "You're my new assistant?" His voice was deep and resonant like the notes from the gently plucked strings of a qin. It was exceptionally pleasant to the ears.
Taehyung puffed out his chest. "Uh-huh."
He earnestly nodded before appraising Taehyung, "How dark."
Taehyung: "......"
Taehyung was a little embarrassed and hurriedly explained, "I just came back from military training. I'll be fairer in a while!"
He did not remark on this and instead rose and walked towards Taehyung.
When he stood up, Taehyung realized that this person was extremely tall. He took slow and measured steps with his hands clasped behind his back. With every step towards him, the figure in the sun grew taller and taller. There was an almost imperceptible sense of being oppressed. It was just like a string with its two ends being pulled in opposite directions. With every tug, the string became tighter and tighter, till it was so taut that it would snap at any moment.
Taehyung began to feel nervous. He straightened his shoulders, swallowed his saliva, and gazed at him.
That person walked closer and closer. Taehyung could already see his features.
Then, he was unexpectedly disconcerted: This person looked familiar!
That slant of his eyebrows, that nose, and that particular set of eyes that were like large round almonds with a narrow double eyelid fold. It was an eye shape that looked suave without being flamboyant. This pair of eyes were framed by long and thick lashes so dark they seemed to have been dipped in ink. It was like the feathers that one could pluck from a black Silkie baby chick... Ah, he once described someone this way before, just who was it...
Taehyung was so, so close to recalling! he was a little agitated. His eyes darted and he spotted that on the right of his nose bridge, there was a teeny tiny light brown mole that was like a tiny star safeguarding his bright moon-like eyes.
Ah!
It immediately struck him and he blurted out, "Jungkook! You're Jeon Jungkook?!"
Jungkook lightly tilted his head and purposely gazed at Taehyung with a puzzled look. "You're...?"
"I'm Taehyung, Kim Taehyung! Have you forgotten?" Taehyung completely did not expect to meet Jungkook here. He was astonished but also delighted. After all, he was an old classmate.
"Taehyung." Jungkook's expression became somewhat preoccupied.
"Right, I'm Taehyung. Don't you remember me?"
"I do. My childhood trauma."
"Eh..."
That was slightly awkward.
Jungkook: "Thanks to your care, I didn't get to spend a single penny of my allowance during the six years of primary school."
Taehyung felt even more awkward. He waved his hands. "You think way too highly of me..."
Jungkook scrutinized Taehyung again. He asked incredulously, "How the heck did you became so dark?"
"I've already said, I just came back from military training, why won't you believe me! Eh, wait..." Taehyung's face changed. "The two of us are in the same batch. You should've gone for military training too. Why didn't you become darker? This doesn't make sense."
"Oh, I skipped a grade. I'm in Year 2 this year."
Taehyung was envious. So a person could be outstanding from a young and stay this way while growing up. Jungkook was like a prized steed that would always be galloping faster than other mules and donkeys.
"Congratulations." Taehyung bit his lips. His tone was just that teeny weeny bit sour. He then probed, "You're still playing ice hockey? I heard Manager Ok mention that you're the core player of the school team?"
"Mm. They were worried that I have too much on my plate and thus hired an assistant. I didn't expect it to be you."
This sentence rudely reminded Taehyung that he was here to be Jungkook's assistant.
Jungkook used to be his former lackey. When Taehyung pointed to the east, he absolutely wouldn't dare to venture west. He was even more obedient than his current lackey Eunwoo.
And now, it was his turn to be his lackey...
This was the downfall of his great dynasty!
How times have changed. Taehyung felt a wave of sorrow and was deeply despondent. He was momentarily unable to accept this fact.
He pouted in frustration, his face broadcasting his helplessness.
Jungkook admired his expression from the side. His lips quirked, revealing a faint smile before immediately reassuming his solemn countenance.
Taehyung was willing to become anyone's assistant. The only exception was Jungkook. How could he wait on someone who was once his lackey? Taehyung faintly shifted his head and said, "I can't take up this job anymore. I just remembered that I have to study well. I'm aiming to go down the academic route in the future."
"Sure, just pay the termination fees."
"What termination fees?"
Jungkook pointed at the contract that Taehyung held. "See for yourself."
There were originally two copies of the contract. After signing, Manager Ok passed him one. Taehyung opened his copy of the contract and scanned the termination clause. It stated that if he wished to immediately leave, he would need to pay an early termination fee of 100,000 won. At the same time, he was also required to compensate for any inconvenience or losses arising from his departure. Alternatively, he could avoid paying the termination fees by giving one month's notice of his resignation.
This meant that if he raised the issue of termination now, he could only leave in a month.
Alright! A month it'll be. He'll just grin and bear it!
"Your duties officially start tomorrow," Jungkook said.
"What do I have to do?"
"You'll have to do whatever I ask you to do," Jungkook said. He silently continued this sentence in his heart, 'just like how you treated me when we were young.'
Taehyung felt that Jungkook's current manner of speaking was practically asking for a beating.
However, he was tall now. It was a complete 180 from the small and squishy steamed bun that he was in the past. Taehyung won't be able to win him in a fight...
Jungkook picked up the backpack hanging off the chair, slung it over a shoulder, and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I'm off."
"Where are you going?"
"Heading to class."
Taehyung looked at the clock and it was indeed time for lessons. He trailed after him and sourly said, "You athletes have lessons to attend too?"
"I'm not solely an athlete."
"Oh? How much did you get for your university entrance exams?"
With one hand on the door, Jungkook glanced back at him. "Sure you want to know?"
The way his face hinted at a smile caused in Taehyung yet another urge to give him a good whack. Taehyung quickly shook his head. "Nope nope, nope I don't. Not going to give you a chance to show off."
The two exited the room. Jungkook stepped into the stairwell and Taehyung followed behind closely just like his little tail. He walked and asked, "Why did you come to RCU then?"
Without turning his head, he answered, "RCU has an ice hockey team."
This person—he was not only good-looking and smart but also excelled in his studies while managing to accomplish the things he loved... To sum it all up, he was winning in life.
Taehyung felt another surge of envy.
After they headed out from the ice rink, Jungkook scanned the row of bicycles for his bike and wheeled it out. Taehyung asked, "What are you majoring in?"
"Astronomy. You?"
"I, I'm in the School of Agricultural Science."
"School of Agricultural Science, what major?"
"...veterinary science." Taehyung raised his head to look at the sky and softly said. His voice was very small, like the light buzz of a mosquito.
Unfortunately, Jungkook heard his words clearly and let out a soft chuckle. Even though the laughter was short, muffled, and had long stopped, just like his voice, his laugh lingered in the air like the notes of a gently plucked qin.
Taehyung could feel his ears heating up. He was a little embarrassed.
Jungkook mounted his bicycle. With one leg on the ground and another leg on the pedal, he asked, "Do you want a lift?"
"Sure." Taehyung accepted his gesture of goodwill. He walked to the back seat of the bicycle and lightly bound up.
At this exact moment, Jungkook pushed against the ground. The bicycle was like a swift swordfish and instantly rolled off with a "swoosh". Taehyung was caught off guard and his butt landed on the ground.
"In your dreams," Jungkook said.
Jungkook leisurely rode off on his bicycle. He thought of the rascal behind him and his eyes slightly crinkled. At the side, a girl saw him, clasped a hand to her cheek, and softly exhaled, "Sooo cute."
With indignation and a little grief, Taehyung got up.
Taehyung watched Jungkook's figure gradually disappear into the distance and thought of the small, adorable, and weak boy in his memories. It was tough to think that those two figures were the same person.
How did a perfectly fine kid grow up to be so crooked?
"Dog, you've changed." Taehyung rubbed his butt, a look of melancholy on his face.
Author's Bonus Content
Taehyung: Your acting's fantastic. The Oscars owe you a little yellow man.
Jungkook: Little gold man, thanks.