<OST: Winter Flower - Younha ft. RM>
"What is going on?" Seokjin's eyes shifted between Jungkook and Jieun. "What happened this time?"
Jieun glared at Jungkook. "Ask him."
"Ask her."
"Ask him-"
"Ask her-"
"Jeon Jungkook!" Seokjin shrieked. "You go."
"Hyung-" Jungkook rolled his eyes and glared at Jieun. "She broke two of my rules and I got upset, that's all. But she got angry, even though I'm the only one who has the right to be angry right now."
"I already told you-" Jieun balled her fists as she stared daggers at Jungkook. "I didn't touch the things in your room, you idiot!"
"Who are you calling an idiot now?!"
"You!" Jieun stuck out her tongue. "And what about it?"
"Lee Jieun, don't cross the line now-" Jungkook's eyes flared. "You know, if I want- I could very well- very well-"
"Very well... what?" Jieun glared at him. "Send me home? Go ahead then! I don't want to live with you anymore either!"
"You-"
"Okay, enough!" Seokjin held up his hands, stopping the fight before things got physical. "We're not gonna settle things any time soon, so we'll settle this later, after the schedule, alright? We need to leave now or we're gonna be late."
Seokjin started the engine and the car moved off.
"Don't even know how to appreciate someone cooking for you..." Jieun mumbled under her breath as she looked out the window. "All the food was gone by morning... bet you dumped it down the chute like the heartless man you are."
"Yeah, I dumped it down the chute, so what?" Jungkook muttered back, loud enough for Jieun to hear. "Who was the one who told me to eat it or throw it? I couldn't eat it so of course I threw it-"
"Yeah, what was I even expecting?" Jieun grumbled softly. "Typical trashy behaviour from a trashy human."
"I think trashy is the perfect word to describe someone who refused to stick to the rules that were clearly made known to her, yet got angry when her faults were pointed out..."
"I said... enough-" Seokjin glanced at the two through the rear-view mirror. "Enough includes not mumbling stuff under your breath to spite each other."
Jungkook and Jieun rolled their eyes and looked out their respective windows.
"JK, you better get some rest now-" Seokjin advised. "Even if you can't sleep, just try to rest a little. You can't go for a sports event with no sleep at all."
"Sports event?" Jungkook frowned. "What sports event?"
"You wrapped up your music show appearances a few days ago... Today, we're going for the Idol Star Athletics Championships filming, remember?"
"What?" Jungkook's jaw dropped. "That terrible show again? Hyung, stop the car - we're not going."
"What do you mean we're not going-" Seokjin furrowed his eyebrows. "When I asked you a few months ago, you were okay with it! Sajang-nim also has been making you attend it every year - why would you suddenly not wanna attend it?"
"I'm not in the mood-" Jungkook groaned as he held his head in his hands. "I'm having a headache right now, can we cancel?"
"It's too late, Jungkook-ah!" Seokjin exclaimed. "Maybe if you had answered the phone last night and told me you weren't keen, we still could have cancelled. But now is an hour to the shoot and you wanna back out? That's not possible."
"Ah... ISAC..." Jungkook whined as he bashed his head against the window a few times. "No wonder I had to wake up so early... I should already have guessed... Then I would have insisted that someone helped me with my sleep."
"And what if that someone didn't agree?" Jieun said spitefully. "Just because you want things to turn out a certain way, doesn't mean they have to."
"Shut up, Lee Jieun. I already said I'm having a headache."
"Shall I help you get some sleep now?"
Jungkook opened his eyes. "Will you...?"
Jieun looked away at once. "No."
"Wow, I really hate you."
"Well, the feelings are mutual."
In the driver's seat, Seokjin let out a loud sigh. "I really don't get paid enough for this job."
-•-•-
"Today's the Idol Star Athletic Championships, who wants to go? It's at Jamsil Arena, so... about an hour from here."
"I want out-" Hoseok said almost immediately as he hurriedly took a seat at his desk. "I have a whole bunch of things to complete today - sorry, bujang!"
"I'll go-" Chungha volunteered. "I've always been covering the ISAC every year - I think it's pretty fun."
"Alright then-" Namjoon announced. "Chungha-ssi, you'll go. Anyone else...?"
"I realised most of my work is complete, my bad-" Hoseok chuckled as he got to his feet. "I'll go-"
"Oh, you're done with your work?" Chungha dumped an entire stack of files on Hoseok's desk. "Help me look through these then."
Hoseok's jaw dropped. "You-"
"Bujang-nim-" Chungha smiled as she pointed at Hyejin. "Today, I'll go with Hyejin-ssi."
Hoseok shook his head frantically. "No, bujang-nim! Hyejin-ssi needs to complete her task you assigned her. I always think that reporters should be focused and determined."
"I think reporters should be flexible and know how to adapt quickly-" Chungha argued, as she smiled sweetly at Namjoon. "What do you think, bujang-nim?"
"If no one else is keen... I think it'd be a good idea to send Hyejin-ssi as well." Namjoon nodded with a smile. "But I'll leave the ultimate decision to Hyejin-ssi. Hyejin-ssi, what do you think?"
Hoseok shook his head desperately.
Hyejin got to her feet with a smile. "I'm more than willing to go, bujang-nim. Thank you for the opportunity."
"Alright then-" Namjoon finalised the lineup. "Chungha-ssi and Hyejin-ssi will go this time. Chungha-ssi, please guide her well."
"I will, bujang-" Chungha smiled as she turned to Hyejin. "Hyejin-ssi, let's leave in five minutes. I'll drive."
Hyejin smiled and nodded. "Okay, sunbae-nim!"
"What are you trying to do this time, Kim Chungha-" Hoseok muttered under his breath as Namjoon returned to his office. "Are you trying to sabotage me right now?"
"What?" Chungha frowned. "Bringing my hoobae out for experience, is there anything wrong with that?"
"I didn't realise it at first... but I can see what you're doing now-" Hoseok narrowed his eyes. "You are awfully sly, Kim Chungha. You want to have your cake and eat it too."
"What are you talking about?" Chungha rolled her eyes as she packed her things into a small bag. "I have absolutely no idea what you're saying."
"Jieun-ssi will be at the ISAC with JK this year-" Hoseok thought for a while. "You're going there to observe her and at the same time, you're bringing Hyejin-ssi along to distract her from her work at hand and keep an eye on her. You're afraid she's gonna succeed and get on TV first. Wah... you're so sly, seriously."
"No, I'm not-" Chungha laughed. "You're crazy. Like I said, Hyejin-ssi is part of our bet but she's still my hoobae - I wanna give her some exposure. Besides, you're the one who gave up your opportunity first. I was about to go with you."
Hoseok eyed her suspiciously. "Don't go overboard, Kim Chungha."
"Don't think too much, Jung Hoseok-" Chungha got to her feet and patted him on the head with a grin. "Don't forget to tidy my desk."
-•-•-
Byulyi poured herself a glass of milk and headed to her desk. Her eyes were barely open and she was already dozing off, but she knew she had to make changes to the novel before Seokjin came home today. She didn't have a concrete plan in mind, but decided that she'd just go with the flow.
She turned on her computer.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Multiple requests popped up on her screen.
- - -
[Facebook] Kim Seokjin has
sent you a friend request.
[Twitter] Kim Seokjin has
requested to follow you.
[Instagram] Kim Seokjin has
requested to follow you.
[Snapchat] Kim Seokjin
added you on Snapchat!
- - -
"Omo!" Byulyi sat back at once, completely awake all of a sudden. "What's this guy's deal? How did he even find me?"
Without any hesitation, Byulyi rejected all the requests and deleted all the notifications at once.
Ding!
Byulyi frowned as she picked up her phone and opened the message.
- - -
9260 xxxx
Accept my friend requests, please?
- - -
Byulyi almost dropped her phone.
- - -
You
don't tell me, you're kim seokjin???
9620 xxxx
Yeah.
You
how did you even get my number?????
9620 xxxx
Well, Lee Jieun gave it to me.
You
that little-
9620 xxxx
Why did you reject all my friend requests...
You
cos we aren't friends
- - -
Over at the ISAC, in his car parked in the stadium carpark, Seokjin let out a soft chuckle.
- - -
You
We could be online friends...?
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
why do you want me to accept them
You
So that I can ask you stuff without acting
like a creep and sliding into your texts.
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
but that's what you're doing right now
You
I had no choice because you rejected
all my friend requests. That's on YOU.
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
say whatever you need to
say before i block you
You
I just wanted to say I'm bored.
I'm at ISAC with JK and Jieun-ie
right now... They're on bad terms.
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
i already heard what happened
last night... your info has no
value, kim seokjin-ssi
You
But you don't know that JK
is not even allowing Jieun-ie
to do his makeup for him.
He's really mad this time.
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
Okay, that's actually useful.
I'll add it into my notes.
You
A 'thank you' would have been nice.
Moon Byulyi 👁👄👁
anything else?
You
I guess not...
- - -
Seokjin thought for a while after he put down the phone. "Ah! I should ask her if we can start writing tonight."
He lifted up his phone, all ready to type-
- - -
You have been blocked from
sending any texts to this number.
- - -
-•-•-
Not many reporters were there when Chungha and Hyejin arrived at Jamsil Stadium. ISAC was an annul affair, but reporters didn't really see the need to report on it, since people were more caught up about actually watching the show than the news about it anyway.
"Oh- sunbae-nim!" Hyejin pointed in a general direction. "There! I see JK-ssi over there, and V-ssi is pretty nearby too. Maybe they're participating in the same event or something."
"Your eyesight... daebak-" Chungha chuckled. "Is Jieun-ssi there too?"
Hyejin squinted a little. "No, she isn't there. I think all the staff are backstage or something."
"Hyejin-ssi-" Chungha got up abruptly. "I think the events are starting soon, but I really need to go to the toilet... can you handle it on your own? If the events start, all you need to do is film some inserts that we can add to our news segment. Maybe you can go closer and film or something. I'll be back quickly, then we can start recording properly."
"No problem, sunbae-nin-" Hyejin smiled as she picked up her things as well. "You can count on me."
As Chungha rushed off, Hyejin moved closer to where the idols were waiting for their event to begin.
"Men 800m heats, please get ready!"
Hyejin hurriedly set up the camera and started filming, as the idols gathered on the track. She raised her eyebrows as she spotted Jungkook and Taehyung staring each other down as they stretched their hamstrings and got themselves ready.
"Cool and handsome, Jeon Jungkook! Cool and handsome, Jeon Jungkook!"
"Kim Taehyung! Kim Taehyung! Kim Taehyung!"
"Jeon Jungkook! Still With You, Always With You!"
"Inner Child, V jjang!"
"Wow! The atmosphere is heating up!" MC Leeteuk's voice filled the stadium. "I can hear the fans cheers from the bleachers all the way from here."
"It seems like this is a battle of the solo artists, Leeteuk-ssi!" MC Dahyun's voice replied. "I can hear their fans having some type of fanchant war all the way from here! Do I hear... Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung?"
"You're right, Dahyun-ssi! I hear it too! It's interesting, since JK-ssi and V-ssi have both had their comebacks very recently and had gone head to head on the music charts. Fans have been longing for this interaction between two of the most popular third-generation male soloists!"
"You can just hear from their cheers how excited they are, Leeteuk-ssi! Their cheering makes me feel all hyped up as well."
"Me too! Oh- it looks like all the competitors are in their places. In Lane 1, we have Cha Eunwoo from ASTRO; in Lane 2, we have Lucas Wong from NCT; in Lane 3, we have solo artist JK; in Lane 4, solo artist V; Lane 5, Shownu from MONSTA X and finally, in Lane 6, we have Mingyu from SEVENTEEN."
"Wah... these guys are all known to be very athletic, am I right, Leeteuk-ssi? I wonder who's gonna win... I really can't tell."
"Neither can I tell, Dahyun-ssi. Is there anyone you're rooting for in particular though?"
"If I had to choose... maybe... JK?"
"Why? Because he's handsome?"
Dahyun laughed. "No, because he has won first place before in previous years - twice, I think. What about you, Leeteuk-ssi?"
"Funny, because I was already rooting for Taehyung-ssi the moment I saw him step on the tracks." Leeteuk chuckled. "This is his first time joining the sprints segment of ISAC, and I just have a feeling that he's gonna win."
"Wow, they're both running next to each other... I wonder who's gonna take the gold medal?"
"Oh- they're getting ready-"
Back downstairs on the tracks, Jungkook was glaring at Taehyung like he was about to eat him up. Taehyung finally looked up at him, and he turned away at once.
"What? What are you looking at?"
"I was just thinking-" Jungkook let out a mocking scoff as he crouched down. "Why I'm so unlucky - I thought I was unlucky enough to see you yesterday, but today we meet again."
"We've been meeting more often lately, it's true-" Taehyung shrugged. "Since our comeback timings clashed, and this is my first year joining sprints - we really have such strong fate, huh."
"Cut the bullshit about fate-" Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I'll destroy you, Kim Taehyung."
"I won't go easy on you either, Jeon Jungkook-" Taehyung smirked as he bent down to get into his ready position. "Don't forget that our speeds were around the same back when we were trainees. You may have trained a lot since then, but so did I. Let's see who has ultimately become faster after all these years."
Jungkook snorted as he looked away.
"Ready? On your marks... get set..."
Bang!
The starting fire went off, and all six of the contestants took off.
"Dahyun-ssi! Check it out! In Lane 2, we have Lucas, racing off! Lane 6, Mingyu too! They're flying!"
"Wow! They're all pretty close! Look at JK and V in the centre two lanes, almost shoulder to shoulder!"
"Wait!" Dahyun's voice screeched. "Mingyu and Lucas are slowing down! JK and V are catching up! They have one more round to go, will they eventually be able to overtake them?"
"Lucas is losing speed! Half a round left - V and JK have exceeded them both and I really can't tell who's in the lead right now!"
"100m left! Leeteuk-ssi! It looks like V-ssi is slightly in the lead! The competition is fierce! The determination on both their faces is no joke!"
"They're reaching the finish line! Dahyun-ssi! Focus! It seems like V is leading by a little- 3- 2- 1-!"
The stadium erupted in cheers as Jungkook and Taehyung slowed down and glanced up at the screen to find out about the result.
- - -
6. Cha Eunwoo (ASTRO) - Lane 1
5. Son Hyunwoo (MONSTA X) - Lane 5
4. Kim Mingyu (SEVENTEEN) - Lane 6
3. Lucas Wong (NCT) - Lane 2
- - -
"Looks like the results are too close, they're slowing down the footage to find out who won!"
"Oh! The results are out-"
There was a pregnant pause as the cameras focused on both Taehyung and Jungkook's faces.
- - -
2. Kim Taehyung - Lane 4
1. Jeon Jungkook - Lane 3
- - -
The entire stadium erupted into cheers. But Jungkook didn't look happy - not at all. He glared at Taehyung, shoving him backwards before grabbing him by his collar.
"Omo!" Leeteuk shouted. "What's happening?"
Dahyun gasped loudly. "JK-ssi is the one who won, I wonder why he's acting like that...?"
"Why'd you slow down at the last moment?!" Jungkook yelled angrily. "You said you were gonna give your all, what is this?"
Taehyung stared blankly at Jungkook, not retaliating at all. "I tripped, Jungkook-ah- You won, and you deserve it."
"Why did you have to do that?" Jungkook finally let go of Taehyung and grabbed onto his heart. "I really wanted to win you... If you didn't give your all, what does this make me..."
"You did, Jungkook-ah-" Taehyung grabbed hold of Jungkook's arm. "You won-"
"Let go of me-" Jungkook panted heavily as tears sprung to his eyes. "I- I- I gave my all, as always- Why- You-"
"Jungkook-ah!"
In that moment, Jungkook collapsed, and chaos broke out.