<OST: Start - Gaho>
"But I'm really curious about something though-" Hoseok let out an awkward chuckle. "What is JK-ssi really like when it's just the two of you?"
"Why?" Jieun burst into laughter.
"I just can't imagine..." Hoseok scratched his head. "I've had so many bad experiences with him... He really comes off to me as a cold person, so when you say he's warm and soft and all that I just- I don't know..."
At that moment, Jungkook walked into the pantry. Chungha, who was facing the door, saw Jungkook and her eyes widened in surprise. Jieun, who knew full well that Jungkook was coming in since he was the very person who fetched her here... tried her best not to smile.
"You don't know...?" Jieun carried on, pretending not to have noticed Jungkook at all. "What did you not know about our JK...?"
"I didn't know that he could be gentle...?" Hoseok began, as he scratched his head. "Actually... to be really honest with you, watching him on television... he doesn't seem to have the type of personality that is easy to get along with."
Hoseok was digging his own hole with Jungkook standing right behind him.
Jieun egged him on. "Mmhmm... I know right."
"Right...?" Hoseok frowned. "That's why, at the beginning when you ranted to us about how annoying he was... I was like, yeah, that's completely expected. But then you started praising him after some time, and then you told us you had feelings for him?! I was like... what? How on earth-"
Jieun's eyes met with Jungkook's, and the two shared a small moment together.
"Honestly, Jieun-ssi-" Hoseok continued, completely unaware of what was going on. "From the very day you joined the company, I really liked you... of course, as a person, I mean - not in that way. I know you're older than I am... but since you're my hoobae after all... I almost treated you like... a younger sister. So when you said you liked him... I was like... really? That guy? That rude guy with a cold appearance...? How can someone as bright and cheerful as you... fall for someone as dark and ill-mannered as someone like him-"
"Ahem."
Hoseok froze on the spot as his eyes darted towards Chungha. "Wait... he's behind me, isn't he."
Chungha pursed her lips, trying to stifle a laugh as she nodded. "Mm."
Hoseok looked like he just got struck by lightning. With half his body still semi-frozen, he turned around and let out the most awkward laugh ever.
"Oh, JK-ssi...!" Hoseok gasped as he grabbed hold of Jungkook's arm. "Good morning! We finally meet in person, huh! What brings you here today...?"
Jungkook gestured briefly at Jieun. "My girlfriend."
Jungkook addressing Jieun as his girlfriend in front of another person made Jieun's knees go weak.
"Ah... I see." Hoseok let out a nervous chuckle. "JK-ssi... about what I just said..."
Jungkook raised his eyebrows. "What did you say?"
"Huh?" Hoseok glanced at Chungha for help, but his request for assistance was rejected instantly due to how thoroughly she was enjoying this. "Oh, you know... what I said right before you cleared your throat..."
Jungkook stared blankly at Hoseok.
"Oh-" Hoseok raised his eyebrows hopefully. "Did you perhaps not hear anything...?"
"Hear what?"
"Ah, it's okay, never mind then!" Hoseok let out a sigh of relied. "Ignore me and that bunch of nonsense I just said to you-"
"No, I was asking which part you were referring to-" Jungkook stared at Hoseok. "The part about you saying that I was a rude guy with a cold appearance... or the part when you said that someone as bright and happy as Lee Jieun should not be dating someone as dark and ill-mannered as me."
Hoseok froze right then and there. "I'm doomed."
"Anyway, I bought drinks-" Jungkook held up four cups of drinks in his hands. "For our Jieun-ie... iced chocolate with whipped cream!"
Jieun smiled as she took the drink gratefully from Jungkook. "Thanks."
"And I didn't know what the two of you liked so I just got two cups of milk tea and one cup of coffee," Jungkook said as he placed the drinks on the table. "You guys get to pick first... the last one goes to your bujang-nim."
"I'll have the tea," Chungha said politely. "And our Hoseok-ssi will take the coffee."
"You must be Chungha-ssi," Jungkook said as he took a seat at the table in the middle of the pantry. "Finally... I get to meet you in person."
"H-Hi," Chungha stammered. "You're right, I was the one you spoke to on the phone the other day-"
"Ah... so it was you-" Jungkook let out an amused scoff. "I assume you and Hoseok-ssi are work partners. You two are also the same ones who revealed my dating news, aren't you?"
"What? Well, um-" Hoseok bit his lower lip as he scrambled to Jungkook's side. "Well, we- er- um- how should I put it... er... yeah."
Jieun leaned against the wall, watching a very interesting confrontation unfold before her eyes.
"So..." Jungkook sipped at his own iced coffee. "You both must have heard from Jieun by now that all those photos you took of me and Jennie Kim back then were staged right?"
Hoseok and Chungha nodded like two children being reprimanded by their mom.
"And I trust that you can keep that a secret for now?" Jungkook asked. "Including the fact that I'm dating Lee Jieun...?"
Hoseok gulped. "Of course... sir."
Jungkook glanced at Hoseok's trembling hand next to him, and tried to conceal his smile. "About the fact that you literally supported Lee Jieun in fooling me... I won't hold a grudge towards you both at all, so don't worry. The moment I decided to forgive her... was the same moment I decided to move on from this matter as a whole. But... I just need your word that you'll leave us alone from now."
"You have our word... sir," Hoseok said frantically. "I mean... if you're dating our Jieun-ssi, you're practically one of us now. So of course, we won't write gossipy articles about you."
"Great-" Jungkook got to his feet with a smile. "And if you want me to look past the fact that you were badmouthing me behind my back..."
"Actually... you were the one behind my back- you know, like right behind-" Hoseok began, but stopped the moment he spotted Chungha giving him the 'no' face. "Sorry, please carry on."
"I can overlook that, too-" Jungkook said. "As long as you cooperate with me on this. What I'm plannibg to do is to hold through for a few more months... and then the contract will end and we'll all just say it's a clean break. That's what we're planning, so I sincerely hope you don't ruin it."
"Of course not, sir-" Chungha piped in. "Of course not... How could we possibly?"
"Very good-" Jungkook nodded. "I actually like you both more than I expected. Since Jieun said you two have been her closest friends at work... I'll count you both as my friends too."
Hoseok glanced at Chungha. "Heol..."
Chungha's jaw dropped. "Daebak. We're now friends with a celebrity..."
"All the more we cannot betray you then, JK-ssi," Hoseok said with a sheepish smile as he put out a hand. "So you have nothing to worry about."
Jungkook shook it.
"What's going on here?"
The four of them turned, only to see Namjoon enter the pantry. Namjoon's eyes landed on Jungkook, and a look of realisation spread across his face.
"Bujang-nim!" Hoseok and Chungha exclaimed.
"So that's why everyone was standing outside, trying to listen in secretly..." Namjoon glanced at Jungkook. "A huge celebrity has arrived."
"I'm flattered, Kim Namjoon bujang-nim," Jungkook said, his face expressionless as he reached out a hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"I've wanted to meet you for a long time, JK-ssi." Namjoon shook Jungkook's hand. "Shall we have a small chat in my office?"
Jungkook glanced at Jieun, before nodding. "Sure."
-•-•-
"Was I too harsh with them earlier...?"
"Hm?" Jieun looked up from the passenger seat of the car and shook her head with a smile. "It was really funny... Besides, Hoseok sunbae-nim and Chungha sunbae-nim are not the type who hold grudges well, so don't worry. They're really nice people, Jungkook-ah."
"That's a relief..."
"By the way..." Jieun pursed her lips. "What did you and our bujang-nim speak about earlier...?"
"Nothing much," Jungkook said. "He just apologised for the past few months... and told me that he has his word that he'll keep our little secret and hopes that I will not hold him and you accountable for 'stalking'. I told him that technically, I was the one who asked you to live with me... so even if I wanted to hold you accountable, it'd just be for snooping around, that's all."
"That's all...?"
"He also said he was concerned about what you were going to do in the future..." Jungkook frowned. "And to be honest, I have already been thinking about this problem for a quite some time too. Ever since you quit your job at the news company... and I fired you from this job, you have been unemployed ever since, haven't you? Do you have anything in mind you want to do...?"
"I've been so caught up with my emotions that I haven't given that much proper thought at all yet..." Jieun sighed. "There is thing I can be sure of though."
"What is it?"
Jieun glanced at Jungkook. "I don't ever want to be a reporter ever again."
"Why?" Jungkook burst into laughter. "PTSD?"
"Not really..." Jieun let out a conflicted frown. "Honestly, I joined KNJ News with a very idealistic and unrealistic view of reporting. I always thought that reporting was all about revealing the truth to the world and educating people about things... At the beginning, it was really fun. I had a goal to work towards - going on television. But through this whole experience, I realised how easy it is for someone to forget about their original intentions at the beginning just to succeed. Of course, other jobs may be like that in different aspects, too - but personally, I think that I'm just not cut out for a job like that. It puts way too much stress on me, too. I don't like it."
"Good thinking, Jieun-ah-" Jungkook smiled as he patted Jieun on the head gently. "What do you like then...?"
"Beauty and makeup," Jieun said simply. "Working with you for the past few months... I really think there's something so beautiful about the art of makeup. It's like the person's face is your canvas... and you are the artist."
"Do makeup then," Jungkook said with an encouraging smile. "If that's what you like, I'll definitely support you. In that case... do you want to become my makeup artist again...?"
"I'd love to, to be honest..." Jieun said slowly. "Besides the constant worry during the time I was working as your makeup artist... I genuinely had a great time. I enjoyed doing your makeup then seeing it on the screen, getting praises from directors now and then, seeing you happy when you see the final product... and all that jazz. It's just..."
Jungkook raised his eyebrows. "Just...?"
"I... I think I want to explore something else."
"What is it?"
Jieun pouted. "I don't quite know just yet..."
"Well, I do have an idea..."
"Oh?" Jieun's eyes lit up. "You do...?"
"Instead of doing my makeup..." The corners of Jungkook's lips curled upwards as he glanced at Jieun. "How would you like doing actors and actresses' makeup for a drama?"
-•-•-
"Oppa, wait-" Jennie grabbed Yoongi by the hand and turned him around to face her. She reached out, adjusted his tie a little before smiling up at him. "Okay, done."
It was finally time for Jennie and Yoongi to talk to CEO Yang about the drama. Needless to say, they were both really, really nervous.
"Thanks..." Yoongi mumbled as he ruffled his hair a little. "You ready?"
Jennie took a deep breath to calm herself down, before nodding. "Mm, I'm ready."
"Let's go, then."
Jennie nodded. "Let's go."
Yoongi knocked on the door twice, before pushing it open. Jennie entered the room first, and Yoongi joined her closely behind.
"Oh-" CEO Yang looked up from his desk the moment Jennie and Yoongi walked in. "Jennie-ya, you're here."
"Mm-" Jennie glanced at Yoongi nervously, before looking at CEO Yang once more. "Sajang-nim, this is Min Yoongi PD-nim - my friend whom I told you about."
"Ah..." CEO Yang's face fell when his eyes landed on Yoongi. "So you're Min PD-nim, I've heard a lot about you."
"Yes, Yang sajang-" Yoongi held out a trembling hand. "I'm Min Yoongi PD-nim. It's nice to meet you."
CEO Yang conveniently ignored Yoongi's hand and took a seat. "Take a seat, please."
Yoongi's hand dangled in the air for a few more seconds, before he quickly retracted it and took his seat. Next to him, Jennie was already starting to look displeased at the way her boss was treating Yoongi.
"So... sajang-nim-" Jennie began, putting on a bright smile - the only thing she could think of doing that could possibly help the situation. "You read the proposal Min PD sent you, didn't you?"
"Glanced through it, briefly-" CEO Yang said as he stared straight at Yoongi. "But I have one question - or rather, qualm. Why was the proposal sent to me through your personal email? Do you not have a company email or-"
"Ah..." Jennie bit her lower lip. "Actually, this is Min PD's first film... He started not too long ago, actually, so he doesn't really have a company email yet-"
"I didn't ask you-" CEO Yang said bluntly. "I asked him."
"Oh, um-" Yoongi swallowed hard, as he gripped on tightly to the seat he was seating on. "I... Jennie Kim-ssi is right. But I'll set up a proper email soon, Yang sajang... don't worry."
"I read through your proposal-" CEO Yang said coldly. "But there was nothing that really drew me to it. It's a remake of a book, from what I know? What makes you so sure it's gonna be a hit?"
"Ah, you see-" Yoongi continued. "Actually, this book has been making its rounds amongst the online community these days. It blew up not just in South Korea, but also all around the world - this writer has gained a huge international following, and also has 20 million followers on the platform she posts on. We managed to contact her and she agreed to help us with the script, so we are convinced that we can hinge on this popularity to get this drama to succeed. It will also be Jennie-ssi's first lead role, so there will definitely be a lot of hype about it."
"Fair enough," CEO Yang said condescendingly as he flipped through the document on his table. "But what distinguishes your work from that of others? I need to know why I should provide my artist to someone like you with no experience... compared to another director with 20 years worth of experience."
"Because years of experience is just a number, sajang-nim-" Jennie piped in. "Yoon- no, Min PD-nim is great at what he does. I've seen plenty of his work, I know you'll-"
CEO Yang glanced at Jennie to shut her up.
"I shan't just be all talk-" Yoongi said as he opened his laptop on the desk and turned it to face CEO Yang. "Instead, I'll show you what I've done."
Yoongi showed the presentation he made early into this morning to CEO Yang.
"How do you find it?" Yoongi asked nervously. "I'd think my works have a very unique colour that not many other directors these days bother to focus on."
"That's true..." CEO Yang furrowed his eyebrows. "But I just have one question, Min PD-nim. I don't want to be rude but... I heard from certain sources that... you've been to jail before?"
Yoongi tensed up immediately.