SEOUL, SK
KOOK & CHAE
—
"So a little birdy told me you were getting a little close to a certain someone on your birthday," Jeon Jungkook began after minutes of silence between him and the main rapper.
The two of them were currently in Min Yoongi's personal studio, working on a few small projects and ideas for their next album as a group. That, and they needed a reason to get out of the house.
"And was that bird named Jimin?" Yoongi said plainly, keeping his eyes focused on the soundboard in front of him.
Jungkook chuckled, who else could it have been? "I thought there's nothing going on between you guys," he retorted.
"There isn't, she was just drunk and wanted to have some fun," he shrugged, not seeing what the big deal was.
He knew she simply had too much to drink and needed someone to lean on, so he gave into her antics and let her rest on his shoulder. He knew it would receive some comments from people, especially his members, but he didn't care as he didn't see anything wrong with it. There was no romantic or malicious intent behind it.
After she had calmed herself down, there may have been one small moment of awkwardness between them before they parted ways, but Yoongi decided to not dwell into that.
"Did you have fun?" Jungkook teased, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Yoongi gave him a side eye. "I don't know what you want me to say," he trailed on.
"Aish whatever," the younger man rolled his eyes, knowing his hyung would never answer him directly.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door which causes both of them to turn their heads.
Kim Seokjin burst through the entrance, not even waiting for an indication that he was allowed to come in. "What are we talking about?" he smiled widely.
The two were unamused by his presence and quickly went back to the work they were doing.
"Anyways, did you guys get Taehyung anything?" Jin ignored their blunt reaction, having been used to it for the past couple of years. "I've been searching the whole day."
Jungkook raised a brow, "For what?"
As far as he knew, his birthday was still months away and there were no upcoming holidays either.
"His album release party?" he replied slowly, as if it was something obvious.
Oh right, Jungkook thought. It had slipped his mind, but now he remembers Chaeyoung mentioning it a few days ago at Yoongi's birthday party.
"When's that?" he asked, typing away on the keyboard to seem like he was unbothered.
Of course, on the inside he was feeling the complete opposite.
Jin's expression changed into extreme confusion. "Girl... tonight," he said.
"Oh," the youngest responded simply.
Well, given their current circumstance, it was unlikely that Taehyung would have graciously extended a personal invitation to him. Jungkook was neither surprised, nor ecstatic.
But frankly, he was a bit glad that Chaeyoung's time with him had finally come to an end. He remembers wanting to rip out his hair by the mere thought of them spending so much time together for this song— not because he wanted to hold her back, but because Taehyung had been hiding things from him.
"Are you guys still not talking?" Yoongi finally decided to chime into their conversation as it had suddenly piqued his interest.
It had already been weeks since Jungkook first approached him about Taehyung acting differently towards him. He figured he had resolved it on his own because he had not mentioned it again recently.
"What?" Jin gasped in response to Yoongi's question. "It's been so long already Kook! Go fix things."
"How did you know?" he questioned.
Jungkook assumed that only Yoongi knew about this problem because he was the only one out of all of them that he confided to. Not for any personal preference, he would have been comfortable telling any of them, but Yoongi had also already been there to set him straight about Chaeyoung.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Jin yelled while rolling his eyed and flailing his arms. "Anyone with eyes can see there's a problem between you two. We just haven't addressed it yet 'cause you both are grown men and we didn't want to get involved."
The youngest let out a heavy sigh, realizing how naïve he was to assume that his hyungs, who have known him for more than 10 years, wouldn't be able to notice their silent feud.
"You guys know how I hate confrontation," Jungkook tried defending himself. "And he started it!"
Yoongi chuckled and patted him on the back, "Then for once... be the bigger person."
☾･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Kim Jennie was a strong girl, even she knew that.
After years of torment and negative comments from the gruelling public, she had learned to grow tougher skin. She stopped looking at what people were saying online, spent more time with her friends, and took on hobbies to take care of her mental health. There was no way she would have survived this industry if she had not.
But as she stood in front of the door of her so-called boyfriend's apartment, she once again felt like the small girl in her trainee days, legs shaking and tears brimming.
She still did not know what to say or do. Should she confront him head on or give him time to explain himself first?
Kim Jennie had never been in a relationship like this before, so it made the whole situation even more difficult.
She loved him deeply, but he had played with her heart.
"Hey babe," she smiled fakely as soon as he opened the door.
Saying the nickname felt like poison against her tongue. She was trying her best to put on a tough front but every passing second of knowing what he did made her blood boil.
He seemed surprised to see her. "Oh, you're back?" he asked with wide eyes.
She had come back from Japan for three days now.
After learning about his infidelity, it was as if the rose tinted lens she saw him through had shattered and she realized the pedestal she had put him on. Every small thing he did, she would romanticize, simply because she did not know any better.
"How was it?" he continued to ask as he gestured her to come inside.
Jennie reluctantly followed and stepped into his living room which looked eerily the same as the last time she visited. It lead her to think that he had not been home for quite some time.
"What have you been doing?" she asked, looking around before staring directly into his eyes.
"Sorry, I was busy with my own schedules," he explained, scratching the nape of his neck. "But you have my full attention now."
The girl nodded slowly, not believing a word he spit out. Maybe it was best if she cut straight to the point.
"I just need to ask you something," she started, her knuckles turning white with how hard she was clenching her fists. "Is there something going on with you and Krystal-unnie?"
He had an even more shocked reaction than when he opened the door to her. His jaw dropped to the floor as his eyes blinked profusely, trying to register what she had said.
She knew that there was, but she wanted to see if he was an even worse person to lie about it.
After Jisoo had told her, Jennie stayed another night in Tokyo, collecting her thoughts and reflecting on the situation. She did not want to jump to conclusions, as back then, she still saw him as a good guy who genuinely loved her. So she asked two of her closest idol friends, Irene and Seulgi, who she knew had some information being from the same company as them. The two confirmed seeing them together on different occasions and that was enough for her.
"What? No! Why would you think that?" he asked, the volume of his tone rising.
Jennie was taken aback. "I just heard it from someone," she replied calmly.
She watched as he paced around his living room, running his fingers through his hair with visible frustration.
"And you believed them?" he questioned with tears welling up in his eyes. "Wow, Jennie-yah. Do you not trust me?"
Was he gaslighting and manipulating her? Jennie blinked profusely at his claims and tear stricken face, unable to fully comprehend the words he was saying.
She stuttered, "Well it's not that—"
"After everything we've been through, you think I would ever cheat on you?" he cut her off.
In that moment, she felt incredibly suffocated. She watched him twist her words and turn the situation around to make himself the victim.
In any regular case, his claims could be true. But there was solid evidence of his infidelity, and he was always such a bad actor.
She felt the last amount of affection and respect she still had for him slip away and be replaced by anger and resentment.
He was her first love. And he had completely broken her in ways she never could have imagined.
"Yah, Kim Jongin," she said, her tone changing in an instant. "We're finished."
And with that, she left his apartment without so much as a second look. She had mustered all her courage to confront him that day, and it took so much more to leave.
☾･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Kim Taehyung popped the cork off of the champagne bottle as the clock struck midnight, marking the release of his first official solo album, as well as his duet with Park Chaeyoung.
The attendance to the event was significantly lower than that of their surprise party a few days prior, as per his request (he literally went on his knees to make sure his members kept this one quiet). It consisted of the boys, his producers, composers, anyone who helped with the project, his Wooga squad, a few of his close idol friends, and Blackpink.
The crowd gathered around as they cheered for his achievement. Members of BTS approached him for an embrace or a pat on the back, and in Jeon Jungkook's case, a small smile.
A few moments after, the DJ played the title track as the guests went back to mingling.
"I couldn't have done it without you," Taehyung grinned as he turned to face Chaeyoung and clanged his champagne glass against the one she was holding.
"What do you mean? I only helped with one song," she giggled. "The rest was all you."
"Still... it was more than enough," he said.
Chaeyoung could feel the sincerity in his voice and she was glad she accepted this opportunity, no matter how busy and stressed she got. The sleepless nights at the studio, the billions of retakes and rerecordings, and petty arguments they had over the title of the song, it was all worth it.
Not only did she get to collaborate with one of the country's leading artists, but she also gained a new friend in the process. She truly got to know Taehyung over the past few weeks and she learned that he truly deserved every ounce of fame he received.
"These are for you," he continued. "Roses, for the rose in my life."
Her jaw dropped as he received a bouquet of red roses from his manager and handed it to her.
Chaeyoung thought it was sweet, albeit a little corny, but the effort was there. He looked so happy giving her the flowers, like a little boy on the playground, that she did not have the heart to tell him that she actually hated roses. He couldn't have known, it was her stage name after all.
"Thank you," the words lingered from her lips as the two fell into a comfortable silence, noticing that the song playing slowly transitioned into their duet.
Their track was much slower than the rest of the pieces in his album, simply because Taehyung wanted to include at least one ballad. The sound of the soft strums of the guitar resonated throughout the whole room as the chatter eventually died down to fully experience the song. Everyone stood still, swaying their bodies to the melodic duet of their voices.
Chaeyoung stared at Taehyung as the first few lines dropped. The lyrics were all in english and she could not have been more proud of him. She looked at him with genuine wonder and awe.
'Cause the window, opened one time with you and me...
Her eyes quickly shifted to look at someone behind Taehyung, standing off in the distance but gazing directly at her.
She had only one interaction with Jeon Jungkook that night and that was when she was entering the party. They gave each other a small wave in passing and did not acknowledge each other after. Things were still a bit awkward between them ever since Japan, and more so now since Yoongi's birthday. There were a lot things left unsaid and a lot of things that should not have been said.
Chaeyoung couldn't read the expression on his face. He did not seem happy nor sad. He just looked at her, with his big doe eyes.
Now my forever's falling down, wondering if you'd want me now...
Suddenly, she had realized that Taehyung was gone from her side and she was left standing alone in the middle of the room. She had also realized that everyone around her had started a dance floor and people had coupled up to slow dance to their track.
She felt a surge of embarrassment as she tried to walk away. But before she could do so, she felt a familiar hand lace through hers. His skin felt soft against hers, and before she could even turn around to face him, she knew it was him.
How could I know, one day I'd wake up feeling more?
"So why am I always saving you in the middle of dance floors?" he teased, flashing her his boyish smile.
Jungkook placed her arms around his neck, holding the bouquet she still had behind him, and he placed his around her waist, guiding her to sway to the music along with everyone else.
"Well, this is the first time you're actually dancing with me on one," she responded, playing into his jokes, as well as trying to mask the redness she felt growing on her cheeks.
Jungkook chuckled, "I wasn't about to let you stand alone to your own song."
Chaeyoung let out a soft giggle before putting her head on his shoulder and letting the music transport them to their own universe.
But I had already reached the shore, guess we were ships in the night...
And for a while, not one of them dared to utter a single word, both afraid of ruining the moment. Chaeyoung could not even begin to explain how she felt against him. There was a fire lit up inside of her, burning for more, his mere touch sending electric jolts up her spine.
But despite that, her heart remained steady, it felt warm, like it had found it's rest.
And that made her scared.
She said she was able to let him go. But can she really?
While she cannot remember all the details of her messy conversation with Jungkook on the balcony that night, she recalls saying things along the lines of being hurt and setting him free (and Inkigayo sandwiches for some reason?)
She truly embarrassed herself that night and she's grateful that he has not mentioned anything about it, though she's sure he had many questions.
But would she be selfish if she also said that she wanted to have this warm feeling every day?
And like all things, the song came to an end and a more upbeat one started playing. Everyone around them stopped dancing and went back to mingling, leaving the two of them in each other's embrace.
"Ehem," a voice interrupted.
The pair, realizing the position they were in, quickly let go of each other, like two teenage classmates getting caught somewhere they shouldn't be.
Jung Hoseok laughed at their innocent reaction. "When will you guys stop making me feel so single?"
Jungkook scratched the nape of his neck while Chaeyoung giggled awkwardly.
"But something is going on between you two right?" he inquired with a glint in his eyes. "Tell me, I wanna be the first one to know!"
He didn't need confirmation and he knew he wasn't going to receive the truth, it was just fun teasing them. Besides, he got all the answers he needed just watching them across the room, radiating the most enveloping warmth as they danced.
And he also watched as another individual, who had only left her side for a second, be heart stricken upon seeing them together and leave the room of his very own party.
Hoseok felt like he was being split in two and the only way he could help was to intervene in their moment before the sight became even more of an eyesore.
"Aish hyung, go back to your room," Jungkook groaned.
"Yah, Chaeyoung-ah you see how he speaks to me?" Hoseok scolded as he ruffled through the maknae's already unkept hair.
Chaeyoung stood, admiring their brotherly friendship before Hoseok did bid them farewell, she assumes to party somewhere else and not to actually follow Jungkook's words and go to his room.
The two were left alone once more as the same awkward air hung heavy between them. It was a feeling that they both knew well... confusion. They both knew something was different about the two of them, but neither had the courage to ask.
"Well, it's getting late," he announced. "Let me give you a ride home."
Although it was well past midnight and Chaeyoung had very blonde hair, she was no Cinderella that needed to be back before her Step-mother.
Her eyes widened, surprised by the early dismissal, "Are you sure? Lisa should still be around somewhere—"
"Congrats on the song Chaeng-ah," another voice had appeared to interrupt them.
This time, Jungkook couldn't help but roll his eyes. One, because he was finally getting to spend time with Chaeyoung in person. And two, because someone else was calling her by his special nickname.
Yoongi followed almost a second after, "Where's Jisoo-ssi?"
The paid quirked a brow, both wondering about the sudden interest the main rapper had on Blackpink's visual.
Though his hyung had been his relationship mentor, Jungkook was quick to figure him out and he seemed to be slow on following his own advice.
Chaeyoung also couldn't help but make her own assumptions, thinking back on that time she caught him at the YG bubble tea shop waiting for one of her members. Could that person be her eldest?
"Not too sure oppa," Chaeyoung grinned innocently as the lie seeped through her teeth. "She left an hour or two ago saying she was tired."
☾･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
"Are you sure that's them?" Kim Jisoo asked with a hushed tone.
Bambam replied back assertively, "Positive."
The two sat across from one another in a busy Korean barbecue joint, dressed in baggy clothing and hats that covered their identities.
They were situated at a table far from the one they were spying on, and they made sure to only take subtle glances to avoid suspicions.
"Hyung was wearing those clothes when he left the apartment," Bambam continued. "And I can spot his build from a mile away."
Park Jinyoung was not exactly a man who could easily go unnoticed. By his broad shoulders alone, he could turn the heads of even grandmothers.
"Who's the girl?" she asked through gritted teeth.
The woman was also wearing a disguise, which led the pair to think that she might also have been an idol. But she was too far, and covered, to be able to truly tell.
Bambam slumped in his seat, feeling hurt for his noona, "Honestly, I don't know."
Jisoo watched his saddened figure. He must have been feeling sympathy for her.
Truth be told, even she didn't know how she felt. The two of them were never officially a couple, and it's not like they agreed to be exclusive during their whole relationship. And on top of all that, they were not even together anymore.
She had no right to be hurt, not when all the odds were stacked against her.
"Is this wrong? Me being here... us watching them," she realized as her eyes glossed over.
For normal people, they may have seemed like psychopaths, stalking innocent people for their personal gain.
"Well, I only messaged you about seeing them here, it was your decision to run all the way here," Bambam shrugged, gulping down the food in front of him, as if the dejectedness he felt momentarily disappeared.
He was speaking the truth.
The second she received the message from Bambam that he was coincidentally at the same restaurant as Jinyoung, who seemed to be on a date with a woman, she did not hesitate to leave the album release party and make her way to this place.
"I just needed to see with my own eyes," Jisoo sighed. "I thought it would've helped me get over him faster if I saw him with another woman."
"And did it?"
"I-It actually hurts more," she stuttered. "Had this woman always been there? Or it was just that easy to throw me away and find someone else?"
Bambam almost felt like tearing up hearing her words.
Jisoo had always put on such a tough facade in from everyone, maybe because she was the oldest in her group. She was known to be the member who never cried or laughed during horror movies, so he always assumed she was not the emotional type.
But looking at her now, small, frail, with eyes full of longing and misery, he realized it was quite the opposite.
This woman was full of emotion, but she will never let the world see.
"I'm sorry noona," Bambam said genuinely. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, you did the right thing," she replied. "At least now I know."
Maybe, this pain was a part of the process.
Being within his presence again made her come to terms with the fact that she was far from being able to let him go.
She wonders if Chaeyoung took her seriously during their intimate conversation in Japan, about talking to their respective partners if the other does.
Maybe, she really should confront him. Jisoo never even got the chance to tell him how she truly felt. She needed closure.
☾･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Their laughter rang throughout the vast parkade of the apartment complex.
Jungkook had made a silly joke, and Chaeyoung couldn't help but giggle.
It was times like these where it felt like parts of them were still best friends.
"Oh yeah, I got you these," Jungkook said as they settled themselves into his car (after lots of convincing to let him drive her home). "Congratulations on the song. You were lovely."
Jungkook chose not to dwell on the fact that Taehyung and her produced a love song of all genres. He knew it would have been immature of him to feel jealous or try to question their intention. He too was an artist and could understand that not everything should be given a deeper meaning. Besides, Chaeyoung sounded too much of an angel for him to care.
Chaeyoung was surprised to see a bouquet of tulips appear from the backseat.
"I know they're not much compared to..." he said sheepishly, looking down at the big bouquet of roses already on her lap. "But I remember you telling me they were your favourite."
How did you know? Chaeyoung wanted to ask. But she was too shocked that she was speechless for words.
These were those parts of them. The ones that will forever be touched by memories, the remnants left behind by their complicated separation, the parts that remember.
She accepted the flowers wholeheartedly with a small thank you, even though her insides were exploding and she had so much more to say.
Jungkook began to drive towards her place with soft music playing in the background as Chaeyoung held on tightly to the base of the bouquet, careful not to drop it or ruin them.
There returned the awkward and thick air. Chaeyoung knew she needed to stop ignoring it and say something, but what? Should she try to explain what she said on the balcony? Should she tell him it was all a lie? Should she ask if there was any part of him that wants to try? Should she ask if he loved her too?
But she remembers the last time she had poured out her emotions which had left her with answers opposite to the ones she wanted to receive.
They had reached her apartment building. And although she tried her best, Jungkook still insisted on escorting her all the way to her door.
The walk through the lobby then the hallways then the elevator was silent. Chaeyoung thought she might actually survive the whole thing without even having to confront him.
"Chaeyoung?" his voice brought her back to reality.
She spoke too soon.
"Yeah?" she blurted as she came back to her senses. She realized that they had already reached her door.
Jungkook cleared his throat before he began, "About our conversation at Yoongi-hyung's party—"
The girl's eyes widened, "Oh my god, I was so drunk, forget I said anything."
Well, for thinking so deeply about what she was going to say, this was definitely not what she was planning on doing.
He laughed at her response.
"No it's..." he said. He looked like he was trying to find the right words, as well as mustering up the courage to say them.
Chaeyoung remembers this look. It was similar to the nervousness he had when he would talk about the crush he had on this girl around her. Of course, back then he thought that girl was her and that's why he seemed so anxious. But still, this time it was a little different as there was more of a seriousness to his tone, as if he had never been more sure of something.
"Don't let me go. And it's okay if you overthink my actions are more than friendly because... well, they are," Jungkook said.
Chaeyoung froze.
"Goodnight Chaeng," he smiled before walking away back into the elevator, not waiting for her response.
—
author's note: sorry for the long wait again, i got caught up with school and exams :(( this chap is not my best work but i really wanted to publish something for u guys... anyways jungkook redemption arc finally!?¡!!¿! hopefully!?¡!!¿! praying this story still has some readers left and i hope you all are happy and safe 💌