.
.
.
Click! Click!
"Jeongguk!!!"
Click!
"Jeongguk!"
Different cameras rushed their way as soon as they've spot them heading out of the building.
" Jeongguk look here please!"
"Jeongguk!"
Bangtan Seonyeondan had just released a new song and it's Music video. And the whole group was asked to make a press conference about it in order to promote the song too. This wasn't a new thing for them now since it happens every comeback. But maybe a long period of being away from the cameras made this whole thing exhausting.
"Jimin! Jimin!"
"Jungkook!"
"Jimin!"
"Jiminie"
"Please look at the camera"
They occasionally respond to the reporters, who are calling their names repeatedly by politely twisting their heads to different directions and bowing to everyone they made eye contact.
"Hurry up and Get in." Their manager called as he taps their shoulders.
Unfortunately he's sharing a car with Jimin today and they're the last one's to go, maybe because Jimin is taking his sweet time in walking out of the conference room as he do his overly polite farewells, why overly? Because he walks slowly as he throws different ~buing~buing~ pose and cute thank you's with finger hearts to each and every person he pass by. He must've missed the crowd.
--
Thankfully the car's cushion is the softest cushion they've been seated to, well that must be exaggerated though.
"I'm exhausted!...." Jimin groans the very moment they've been seated.
"Ahh. Hyung! give some space for me too! We're both tired..." Jeongguk exclaimed to Jimin who is trying to lay down occupying a lot of space for his own good. Jimin did nothing so he just pushed him until he's sure that their space are even. Jeongguk was never a fan of unfair society.
The sky outside is still bright but the day is surely coming to it's end. The sun is slowly making it's way down as it throws orange rays in the middle of the sky that Jeongguk's eyes can reach through the windows. They're exhausted... And hungry... this day have been very tiring for them because it's the first day that they come out to sit in front of cameras but surely not the last. And maybe, answering questions in front of cameras for an hour is harder than practicing Choreography all day.
Jeongguk groan when he feel his phone vibrating, on his jeans. He's trying to find a good position to rest, 'cause he feels like he sat in that conference for years but someone is being a brat and trying to call him? No way.
He picked his phone but he won't answer it of course so he just throw it in his bag. And 'It's not that important' he reason to himself.
"Tae's at it again..." Jimin complains while fishing his phone on his jeans.
He look at the screen and mumbled different complaints as he rolled his eyes Jeongguk doesn't need to care it's not that important...
"He called the GC and of course you won't answer it. So I'll answer it for the both of us." Jimin sigh as he-- an ever supportive boyfriend-- answer the call from Taehyung.
"Whatever. Just don't flirt in front of me." Jeongguk deadpanned while resting his head on the back rest of his seat planning to get a good sleep in the car.
"Oh! Jin-hyung answered it too?" Jimin exclaimed and the next thing he knew his face is being pushed away from his own phone.
Yes. Jeongguk is exhausted and all but he won't let a chance to see Seokjin, slip pass his own fingers --even when he technically do when he didn't answer his own phone-- especially today.
They got a lot of work to do to promote their new song and the only time he got to be with Seokjin is when their walking in to the conference room and that's all, the rest are subtle and occasional glance to each others side, so you can't blame him if he's acting like this (no, you just can't blame him).
The screen is divided into 3 in jimin's phone, in front of him showing the members. The biggest one is Taehyung's together with his hobi-hyung and rapmon-hyung next is his --jimin's-- and the 3rd one is yoongi-hyung's with Jin resting his head on the back rest, eyes closed and neck exposed.
Jimin is wrong though. Jin didn't answer the call, but yoongi answered it for them.
And Jeongguk mentally thank his yoongi-hyung for that. He know he can always count on him. He can now, study the whole look of his boyfriend for today.
There are 5 faces in front of him now but his eyes focus on one.
'Illegal. This must be illegal.'
Jeongguk's mind shouted as he traced Seokjin's form in front of him.
From his bronze hair covering his deadly forehead to his closed eyes showing his long eyelashes, perfectly angled pointed nose, and plump lips that makes the line around it looks dramatically sculpted, to his majestic jaw tilted because of his current position down to his sexy neck.
'A neck like that... is to die for' Jeongguk's mind shouted again but this time it shouts loudly without him realizing (because of course he's too busy drooling on his boyfriend's body.) It only registered to him when Seokjin's closed eyes opened in a split second and darted to probably yoongi's phone.
Jeongguk can't see it but he knows that it's directed to him. Those piercing eyes are surely directed to his.
Silence.
3 seconds of silence before a sense of embarrassment hit him... And to make it worse the sound of other members laughing their ass off resonance into the little space of the car they're in.
He clicks his tongue as he mentally face palmed himself
Thinking 'What's gotten into me' on repeat.
Then he closed his eyes waiting for the members to stop laughing. He almost slapped Jimin's head because 1.) He's the nearest one 2.) He laughs the loudest.
"Coming from the one, who told me not to flirt in front of him." Jimin snickered.
Jeongguk's eyes widened before he glare daggers to Jimin's side. Of course Jimin won't let this slide, he'll pull him deeper into the pit of embarrassment because that's what a best friend does.
But maybe Jeongguk is shameless because instead of depending himself he just gave Jimin a proud smile before he spat his reply.
"Well... You can't blame me. It's kim Seokjin we're talking about.."
"You can't blame me either, 'cause It's Kim Taehyung we're talking about too."
They spend a moment giving each other a disbelieving look before a deep voice of Namjoon rang on the background.
"You both know that we can hear you, right?"
They both groan at that. Embarrassed.
"Anyways, why did you call, Taehyung?" They both focus their attention to Jimin's phone to hear the answer too.
Taehyung is wearing a smug face as he lean in to the screen.
"We reached 1 million views in just an hour...." He whispered.
"Woooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh!!!!"
Jimin jumped in his seat while punching the air, seokjin and yoongi smirked while hobi screams together with namjoon and Jeongguk claps his hand whispering 'thank you Army' again and again.
"Because of that, we're going to eat dinner together!!! We got the companies wallet!!!"
They're cheers got louder at that.
-----------
They all choose to eat in the dorm and order food instead since they can't decide on where they want to eat and it can be troublesome too.
Now they are all seated on the floor around the long table. And this time Jeongguk didn't missed the chance to sit beside Jin.
"Cheers to 1 million!!!" Taehyung shouted as he raised his cup of cola.
"No! It's 4 million already!" Jimin interrupted.
"Uh? That's fast thanks babe!" Different snorts fill the room, before Taehyung raised his cup again.
"All right, Cheers to 4 million!!!"
"CHEERS!!!" they shouted in unison.
They spend their time talking about different vacation stories since they've been away for more than a month.
Taehyung is reenacting his days with yeontan, his cousins and siblings while Jimin listen fondly taking shots after shots of soju and Jeongguk can't do anything but eavesdrop on that.
Jin is engaged in a fishing story with Yoongi--who's running his hand's up and down on hobi's legs -- While Jin he's rubbing his thumb unconsciously on Jeongguk's tattooed knuckles above the table.
Namjoon and Hobi are having a serious talk about the next Album as they drink beer beside Yoongi .
"Hyung! I've seen a post about your name trending twice today! What happened? Did you use your worldwide handsome face again?" Jimin teased as he raised his cup across the table in front of Jin.
Jin smirked but didn't say anything he just clink his cup to Jimin's.
"Our new song is the top trend though.." Taehyung Says, pushing back Jimin's hair to exposed his forehead before scrunching his nose at the smell of alcohol.
"Army's are working hard... I've seen a lot of post telling everyone to stream our new song" Jimin remarks.
"They're always working hard" joon added as he rest his head on the wall. And everyone agreed with that everyone are happy with that.
____________
Bangtan are back to their dorm once again, since the company thinks that it's better to stay together to prepare for the upcoming busy schedules which will surely hit them like a truck after this day. And everyone agreed to that.
The whole group missed their own room in this dorm, so they insist to go on they're room after dinner.
Jeongguk inspect his room. And it's untouched. Just like how he left it.
They didn't take away their things and it's still right where they left it.
Nostalgic.
Even when they haven't been away for years, it still feels so nostalgic probably because this is the longest time they've been far from each other and to their dorm. The dorm that they call home.
He's lying on his bed looking at the ceiling while pondering about everything he missed in his room when Jimin's voice rang in his mind
"Hyung! I've seen a post about your name trending twice today! "
He doesn't really care about what's trending now a days but if it's his Jin-hyung he needs to see it, so he logged in to his stan account and spent minutes in scrolling.
The bird app is almost crashing because of their new song, Jeongguk is hit--once again-- by the fact that they are getting worldwide. This is their dream and he can't believe that he's still at it.
After reading a lot of compliments about the new song and their looks, a post about Seokjin from his favorite seokjin stan account appears.
Seokjin deserve everything and not this! He always work hard on everything! And this is definitely unacceptable. Lack of lines and uneven screen time? I'm hurt, it's been years and his company is still treating him like this?
"Jin-hyung?" He Immediately stands up re-reading the post. He then start, scrolling every post about Seokjin.
Unlike the post he'd seen earlier, the post about Jin is a whole turn around. Almost every post is saying the same thing. 'Lack of lines , lack of screen time' and a lot of disappointment about the company's incompetencies.
A lot of Jin biased are sad and mad, but the most heartbreaking part is the part where some of them are leaving, they can't stand it anymore so they want to leave.
'the continous heartbreaks are unhealthy to anyone'
No one can blame them though. They love Seokjin so much that it pained them so much too. Jeongguk has been using this secret account for a long time and he'd seen the army's love towards them. And one of the things that he's amaze about Jin stans are their endurance. He'd seen them post different frustrations about the comeback but they're still staying, hoping one day they'll get what Jin deserves and Jeongguk never fails to mention that to Jin, who smiles fondly in return.
Hearing
'Did jin-hyung saw this?'
He turned around looking for the clock.
9:45
The possibility that Jin-hyung is still awake is high.
He immediately get out of his room running to his Jin-hyungs room. He needs to be beside him. He doesn't know why but he needs to. If he feel bad about it, what more would his seokjin-hyung?
He arrived immediately, but when he saw the closed door he lost all the courage he's carrying from the moment he stepped on the floor.
'What now?'
He wants to talk to him but what would he say? How would he comfort him? He doesn't even know if Jin saw the post-- right he needs to know if he saw the post first.
He knocked before he pushed the door open. He immediately saw Jin sitting on his bed looking at his phone.
'Did he saw it already?'
"Hyung..."
Jin looked up at him before he put his phone down.
"Jk, it's still early for you to come here, didn't you missed your room?" Jin jokes.
Jeongguk eyed Jin's phone, before he put his eyes back to Jin. He didn't process what Jin had just said, he didn't put more thoughts about it. He just walks close to him as he study his expression.
He heard crickets on his head after half a minute though...
He really can't read Jin if Jin doesn't want to. Jin is a natural actor, he mastered every way of keeping his true emotions in front of everyone, even him. But one thing is for sure, whenever Jin is doing this to him, Jin is keeping something.
"Did you... see the... Trend... Under your name?" He asked carefully looking for any break in Jin's demeanor.
Jin looks away almost immediately, he furrowed his eyebrows to something on the wall that Jeongguk can't see.
"I don't, but as Jimin said before... It's just about my face right?" Jin Smiled nonchalantly to him, and he can't help but furrow his eyebrows at that...
He finally saw the 'break in demeanor' that he is looking for. Jin can mask his expression but not his lies in front of Jeongguk. Jeongguk had found ways to identify his lies after years of dealing with it. They've been together for 9 years now and Jeongguk is proud to say that he knows Jin very well.
"Well... I-I've seen it hyung" Jin's aware of it... Jin had surely checked that trend too. But Jeongguk doesn't want to pressed on that anymore. He'll make Jin talked about it instead. He doesn't know why he's stuttering though..
"It's late, let's go and sleep now. "
"No, hyung! Let's talk about it." Jin leaned back using his hands to support his weight and tilted his head to face Jeongguk, suddenly showing a stoic expression.
"Your name trended twice, not because of that reason... Your name trended twice because your--"
"Stop!" Jin fixed his position from leaning back to sitting properly, he pushed his hair back exposing his forehead while closing his eyes.
'That's hot'
He blinked repeatedly to pushed back all his stupid thoughts, to the deepest part of his brain. This is not the right time to be horny Jeon!.
"Yes, I saw that trend Jeongguk, but it's not necessary to talk about it. Just--let it go. " He pinched the bridge of his nose before he looked straight to Jeongguk's eyes for the first time since the latter came to his room.
It didn't shake him though.
"I told you, a lot of times that we should talk to the company, we should fix that issue hyung!"
"And I told you that, it's alright didn't I?"
His jaw dropped at that. Kim.Seok.jin never change, and he hates him for that. He hates that he's as selfless as that. Jin is everything and sadly he doesn't know that. When it comes to the whole group. When it comes to them he's selfless. He'll end every conversation about himself with that 3 syllables.
'It's alright' .
"You do, but I never agreed to that!! Hyung, you always do something whenever you feel like the company is not giving us what we deserve, how about you...." His voice broke in the last sentence and a single tear escaped his eyes, without him realizing it. He love all of his hyungs so much. When they cry he cries as well but only Jin can make him as devastated as this. Only Seokjin... He's crying because of mixed emotions he's feeling at the same time. Sadness, hatred, frustration, pain, and the fact that he's falling in love even more made it worse.
Jin stand up immediately wrapping his arms around him. But he's not buying that consolation. He needs to prove a point here, so he pushed him away. He won't stop here, It's been years and this time like always he wants to knocked a lot of senses to Jin.
"Jin! One of your best fan, gave up being your fan today! They are tired! Jin! " He hit his chest with every words he say, out of frustration but he didn't get a reply.
"I can't let it happen again and again Jin! We need to do something at least--"
"You don't need to do anything." Jin cut him off with finality.
"Then you should!!! Do something Jin!" He retort back suddenly raising his voice. He's breathing is uneven now as he wait for Jin to throw his argument. But Jin didn't. Jin held both of his hands and he smiled at Jeongguk.
" Yeah. I'm doing something... Something I'm best at... and it's called staying. I'm staying... Kookie" his smile grow wider as he say the last words and everything inside Jeongguk fell apart. He hates it when Jin is putting a smile on his face on times like this, but he hates his sincerity even more.
Although he has a point. He's staying. He can run away from all of this but, he's staying. But Jeongguk know too, that it's unfair... It's not right on Jin's part and somehow it hurts
"Jin..." He hit his chest. "Why are you like this?" He put his hands on his shoulders as he try to look at his eyes.
This time Jin is showing his emotions. And Jeongguk wish he didn't. He wished that Seokjin had hold his mask longer. He wished... he didn't saw the tiredness on Jin's eyes. It would be easier for him, if he did not look at his eyes.
"Jin..."
'Jin-hyung is tired?' He saw other emotions too, but the tiredness hit him hard.
Was it because of me? Did I inflicted that?
All of the courage he built suddenly crumpled. He can't do this. He can't stand those emotions he saw in his eyes. He can't add anymore pain.
But this is wrong...
He can't let those courage crumple. He wants to make a point, he's about to knock some sense to Jin... So why? why is he grumbling down like this?
He tried to look him in the eyes again but a lot of memories from those times he did this, rushed to him. Every Misunderstanding, every fight, every single time-- every single time that Jin would used his words to give him assurance and every single time that he knows he failed. It must be really tiring.
"Please don't cry..." Jin kissed his forehead as he wrapped him in to another hug. "I'm enduring everything for a chance to stay with you... To stay with the members... Just please..." His hand goes to Jungkook's cheeks to brush the tears that trails. "Please... This time let's not fight about this..." Jin tilted his head up to meet his gaze then he lean down to kiss him softly.
It's a gentle and caring kiss. Full of assurance and love, as if he's telling him to leave it all to him 'cause everything will be alright.
"Let's sleep now?" Jin asked the he bops Jk's nose.
They went under the covers snuggled to each other as their leg entangled to one another.Jungkook is facing Jin's neck and a warm breath is fanning his forehead. Exhaustion is lulling him to sleep.
"Someday we won't need to worry about this things... When that day comes please stay beside me... Just like this... Jk..."
Of course he would. Jin is his everything and his whole life with Jin is already planned. He even wrote their bucket list. But he's too tired to say anything so he just tightened his hug.
"You've filled my whole existence... Now I can't live without you..."
You too hyung..
_______________
"Jungkookie... I understand you... but wasn't it too early in the morning? How did you even get here alone?" Mr. Bang said completely stressed and exhausted. He's been massaging his temples for almost half an hour now since Jungkook came. He hasn't been able to eat breakfast, because he choose to deal with this First.
"I drive. And I'm sorry Mr. Bang Sihyuk-nim, but this is an important matter that we need to talk about."
"Did Jin--"
"No. I came here on my own. Jin-hyung tried to stop me, but he can't--" Mr.Bang fixed his glasses and looked at him intently.
"Fine. I sneak out while he sleeps. But that's not the point--"
"I understand. Jin has been the best and the most successful prodigy I've seen and don't worry I'll do what I can-- I mean I'll do something."
_______
"What?!!!!" Jimin exclaimed and Jungkook immediately looked around.
"Hyung!!! Be quiet!!! Jin-hyung would kill me if he knew!!!" Jungkook half shout, half whined.
"He's in the practice room, he won't be here anytime soon." Jimin Says flicking his forehead.
They're in the company cafe, waiting for they're dance teacher to call them in the practice room. They're scheduled to do a 2pm dance practice for the new song to perform in their first performance on national TV. They already know the whole choreography but practice makes perfect.
"But seriously... Why did you do that? No one of us meddle about things like that..." Jimin ask, while stirring his cup of coffee.
He told Jimin about how he talked to Mr. Bang about Jin and Jimin is half amazed half worried.
"Sshhh... If Jin-hyung hears you I'll be damned!!" Jungkook says briefly glancing back to the whole cafe.
"And you know that I can't just stand idly... I think I've already wasted a lot of times though, I should have done this before" Jungkook said sadly looking at his milkshake.
"Damn... The power of Loveeeee" Taehyung said dramatically as he clutch to his chest.
"Shut up. Moron!" Jimin shouted to Taehyung.
"Hey, love why'd you call me that." Taehyung Whined before sitting beside Jimin.
"Because you're a moron." Yoongi spat before sitting beside Jungkook.
"Hey gays" hobi wave as he stand beside Yoongi who's wrapping his arms on his waist.
"Jin-hyung text me saying he's been waiting for us for eternity. But I can't get in there until the dance teacher say so." Yoongi said as he scroll on his phone. "Did he text you?" Jungkook rest his head on the table before pouting.
"He turned his phone off" Jimin Answered on his behalf.
"No wonder he's asking me to find you" Namjoon said before chuckling.
"Why would you turn off your phone, you know very well how Jin-hyung hates that." Hobi nag while shaking his shoulders.
"Well, I think he likes mad Jin-hyung..." Taehyung chuckled.
"Kinky..." Yoongi commented on the sideline that made Taehyung laugh.
"I've been texting you all to come in to the practice room, what's taking you all so long." Mr. Songdeok asked as he walked towards their table.
"Oh. We've just arrived, we've been indulge in good talk so..." Namjoon end his words with a shrug.
Then they followed the teacher one by one with the help of Taehyung dragging Jungkook away from the table.
When they arrived to the practice room they're welcomed by a tired Jin sprawled on the floor with eyes closed. Jungkook almost run his way towards Jin out of worry, if it wasn't for Jin moving his hands out of his eyes to show his perfectly fine face.
"I almost die waiting for y'all" he said with eyes still close.
"Stop overreacting..." Yoongi said rolling his eyes.
Jin immediately pulled his body to sit up in a swiftly.
"Do you know that I practiced the whole choreography 20 times--"
"5 times..." The dance teacher interrupted.
"--Perfectly? Including the newly added parts"
Jungkook's eyes sparkle at that. Jin must be complaining but he can clearly see that he's happy.
"Yoongi is right. Stop overreacting..." The dance teacher added suppressing his fond smile.
"Whatever you say, I still work hard." Jin pouted.
Jungkook's hand found its way on Jin's sweaty hair, petting it. Jin looked up at him and smiled genuinely.
They learned that the added part of choreography is part for Jin. A center Jin leading the choreography of the whole group. As Jin had said he already learned it so the dance practice went smoothly.
___________
"Thank you..." Jin whispered to Jungkook one evening while Jungkook is preparing dinner.
Jin wrapped his arms around him from behind trying to rest his chin comfortably on his shoulder.
"Hyung, we both know that I'm only preparing this, but you'll be the one cooking." Jungkook said shaking Jin away to no avail.
"Thank you..." Jin mumbled against his neck and oh Jungkook would surely cook for dinner. He would! He doesn't care about the other members stomach he'll throw everything in the pan now.
He put the pan on the stove and reached out to open it, but Jin pulled his hand back, placing it against his lips to kiss his knuckles repeatedly.
"Hyung..." He tried to look back at Jin but the latter is already placing wet kisses on his neck.
"I heard you talked to Mr. Bang..." He trailed leaning impossibly closer to Jungkook who stiffened at his words.
"I--" He blinked several times trying to create words.
Jin turned him around unceremoniously but gently. He already gave up on making words so he just stared at Jin's heavenly look.
"Thank you..." Jin said again before leaning in to rest his forehead to Jungkook's. "You don't have to do it but.... Thank you" He said before placing kisses to Jungkook's lips.
A wave of relief rushed through him and before he knew it he's already returning the kiss with the same rhythm, same gentleness, same softness.
When the kiss ended Jin pulled him into a tight hug, where his back is pushed against the sink. He's technically carrying half of Jin's weight since Jin is resting his chin on Jungkook's shoulder.
"Hyung, you're really weird when you're saying thank you. I should make sure that you won't say thank you to anyone." He pouted while running his hand on Jin's dark locks.
"I'm only like this if it's you." Jin explained before lifting Jungkook to settle him on a highchair.
"I'll cook now, before yoongi throw the pan to me because hobi is hungry." Jin chuckled bopping Jungkook's nose before turning on the pan. Jungkook watch him cook like always.
"Jungkook..." He trailed while stirring the stew.
"Hyung?..." He replied.
"......"
Jin wants to say something. He wants to say how thankful and happy he is, he wants to put it into words. But he's never been good with words. He knows he'll scramble the words if he pushed himself further, so he settled on the words that always sit on the tip of his tongue whenever he's with Jungkook.
"I love you, Jungkook." He said again, without taking his eyes off the stew.
As crazy as it looks like, Jungkook knows Jin best. He knows what those words want to convey. He knows why Jin can't look at him, he knows why shade of red are coloring his boyfriend's cheeks. He knows exactly how he feels. He understand him the most.
Jin flinched when he felt arms snaking around his mid-section, but he calmed down when he felt a chin rest on his shoulders.
"I know..." Jungkook tease.
"I know I'm the love of your life, your one and only, your star, your baby, your everything, your oxygen-- you can't even live without me." He teased further knowing very well that Jin won't argue back, he's too embarrassed and grateful to do so.
They fell into comfortable silence with Jin putting different seasonings and ingredients in the pot as he tends to the two dish he's cooking and Jungkook comfortably resting his chin on Jin's shoulders, arms still wrapped around his abdomen leaving trails of kisses on Jin's neck from time to time.
He felt contented. They've been together for 9 years. In love for 7 years. In a relationship for 5 years. They won't smile all the time--but hell, they don't even know if they can be together all the time. But right now he's contented. There would still be a lot of misunderstanding a long the way. They would fight and argue for the sake of each other but they would always find ways to say those 3 words. If it's them he knows he will, he would always find ways to say it. Because this thing is once in a lifetime. And he's in for whatever it takes. At the end of everyday with Jin he'll always tell him...
"I love you, hyung"