-----

It's late.

You've just lay down in bed when your phone buzzes.

What are you doing?

It's from Jungkook.

You purse your lips, almost tempted to ignore it just to put him in his place.

Tsk, the nerve of him, saying that you always hide.

Suga was right, you decide. Jungkook is a bully.

Hmph.

About to sleep.

You hit send and pull the covers over you.

Did you have a good day

You soften at his question.

Yes, thank you. What about you?

You wait a few minutes but there's no reply.

You turn off the lights.

Just as you start to doze off, your phone buzzes again.

Just finished with Rapmon hyung. Getting a snack on our way home.

You smile at the picture, genuinely touched that he bothered sending one.

And he was just so damn handsome......

I'm glad you're out having fun, you guys deserve it.

They told me that we are doing an outing tomorrow. Leaving first thing and spending the night away.

Stay safe...

I will.

But that means I won't see you tomorrow.

Well, well well. Who's hiding now?

Never.

You stare at the message, wondering how he's so intense all the time.

It's just a joke, why can't he relax?

You're just thinking of a reply when he sends another.

I won't keep you up. Good night.

Good night.

You scroll up to grin at the picture for a few more seconds.

Then you turn your face into the pillow, your heart throbbing with happiness.

------

Your job is quieter when Bangtan isn't around.

You mostly stay at your desk, organizing your articles and cropping photos into them.

It's rare that Bighit doesn't send you along with the guys, but sometimes it happens when the company is sure that they don't need you to write about the event.

Usually you appreciate the downtime as it allows you to work on your writing and editing.

Today though...

You're the tiniest bit anxious.

The tiniest bit looking forward to seeing Jungkook again.

But maybe it's good if you don't see him for a day.

Things are happening so fast between you.

Maybe a day to calm down is good.

It also gives you a little space to think about Myungsoo.

Why was Jungkook so concerned about him?

Myungsoo is your friend.

Does this mean Jungkook will be unhappy whenever you hang out with Myungsoo?

You sigh, covering your eyes with your hand.

Jungkook sometimes chatted with the other female staff.

You don't really mind.

You shake your head, confused.

You still have to find a way to apologize to Myungsoo.

You had left his jacket behind, forgotten, when Jungkook threw it onto the floor at the broadcasting station.

Caught up in the rush of leaving, it completely slipped your mind to pick it up.

The sooner you admitted it, the better.

It was his choreography team jacket he had lent you, with his name on the back and initials on the sleeve. Everyone on the choreography team had only one, and now you've lost his.

The guilt was seriously bothering you.

Shutting down your laptop, you get up, resigning to the task of confessing it all to Myungsoo today.

You take the elevator upstairs to check his office, but he wasn't there.

You check two dance studios before you find him.

He's crouched on the floor with another choreographer and two dancers.

A staff member is recording them with a small camera.

They do a breakdance move, twirling on their knees and flipping backwards onto their wrists.

It looks ridiculously difficult.

The man recording waves at you and you wave back, smiling as he pans the camera over to you.

"Don't film me! Film them," you laugh.

"We're done," answers Myungsoo.

He bounces up in one fluid motion.

You exhale in awe, admiring his dancer reflexes.

"I'm going to talk to her," Myungsoo says to his team.

"You guys walk through the move one more time on camera."

They nod and start the sequence again, the guy with the camera counting them into a tempo.

"Hey," Myungsoo saunters over to you.

"What's up?"

"I... I need to talk to you. Can we talk outside?" You raise your voice over the guys shouting behind him.

"Of course!" He brushes past you into the hallway.

Following him and shutting the door behind you, you gulp and look over at Myungsoo, shamefaced.

"Myungsoo... you know how you lent me your jacket the other day...?"

"Oh yeah!"

"I... I'm so, so sorry... I misplaced it!" you blurt.

"Misplaced it? How?"

"I left it at the set the other day. While I was talking to Jungkook. I'm really sorry."

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's the one with my name on it, they know who I am over there. They'll just hold it for me until I go again." He waves off your apology.

"Really?" You look up in relief.

"Yeah for sure!" He replies, smiling. "Don't you worry."

"Phew," you laugh.

The door pushes open.

One of choreography guys sticks his head out.

"Myungsoo! We're done. Can we send this off or do you want to take a look?"

"I trust you guys. Just send it." Myungsoo replies.

"Sure thing," his team mate disappears.

"How are you doing?" Myungsoo asks you.

"I'm good. A little hungry. I am actually about to go have lunch." you tell him.

"Wow! That sounds excellent. Mind if I join you?" his face brightens at the thought of food.

"Sure," you answer.

But a small part of you hesitates.

Jungkook would probably not like it very much.

You frown.

Is this how it's going to be?

You'll have to feel guilty around Myungsoo?

You have lunch with Myungsoo nonetheless, walking down the street to a café.

He chatters and you chime in, truly appreciating his friendship.

You're sorry when lunch is over and you part ways in the elevator to return to work.

The rest of the day passes in a blur as you confront the task of decluttering your desk and its many drawers, wondering if you're still allowed to hang out with Myungsoo.

-----

You're washing your dishes from dinner when your phone vibrates.

Drying your hands, you peer over at the screen and press your finger onto the scanner.

It's a text message.

Where are you?

No hello, no how are you, just demanding Jungkook.

You roll your eyes and go back to finishing the dishes, rinsing them out extra slowly.

You're brushing your teeth when he texts again.

Are you home yet?

You wait until you're in bed before you reply him.

Yup. Are you resting at the hotel?

Yes.

He sends back instantly.

Can we video call?

Um... my hair is a mess.

That's OK. You don't have to turn on your video.

Before you can type anything in return, your phone is already ringing.

"Ughhhhh," you groan.

Carefully selecting the voice option only, you answer his call.

"Yeoboseyo?" His voice drifts through.

Your heart speeds up just hearing his voice.

"H-Hi..." you say, a little overwhelmed as your screen lights up and his video streams in.

It's such an intimate thing.

He's lying on a bed, still in his street clothes.

You blush in spite of yourself.

"You're really not going to video?" he snipes.

"I... but--- my hair is messy... you said I didn't have to!" you whine.

He sighs loudly.

"Okay, that's not the point anyway," he says.

"I want to ask you something."

"What is it?" you wonder out loud.

"Guess what I got a video of?" He says testily.

His expression isn't pleasant.

He looks annoyed with you.

You can't help but feel intimidated, even through the phone.

"What?" you ask apprehensively.

"Myungsoo's new choreography we're supposed to practice while we're away."

"Oh, okay," you answer, unsure how it has to do with you.

"Okay??" he demands, "What were you doing there? Are you always with him? And why did you call him outside the room? Where did you go?"

His voice rises as he interrogates you.

You are mindblown.

What?

How did he know you were with Myungsoo today...

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

You were in the frame of the dance recording.

You even waved at the guy who turned the camera to you.

God, and it showed you asking Myungsoo to step outside?

You facepalm.

Why, universe, why?

"Yaa! If it wasn't for the video I wouldn't even know you're hanging out with him all the time when I'm not even there!" Jungkook positively seethes.

His face is vicious, brows drawn together in anger.

"Why are you hanging out with another guy?" He drills again, when you don't answer.

You take a deep breath.

"Stop it," you tell him.

"Jeon Jungkook, you are so bossy."

He goes still.