song of the chapter: black swan - bts

-

My parents and I sit down on our couch, watching the newscast for today. I sigh, placing my head on my dad's shoulder. I replay yesterday's moment at the dinner so many times.

Jean and Jungkook are best friends.

Jean is betraying him, only that he doesn't know.

I do.

"How was your shift today, honey?" my dad asks.

I reply, "It was okay. There weren't many customers today."

"You need to rest, Dae. It's for your own good." my mom reprimands me.

I haven't rested in weeks. Most of the time I come home from college and get ready for work, always coming back home very late at night. Seokjin wanted to give me more flexible working hours but I always told him that I wanted the seven hour shift so I could gain more money. Why do I want the money? To help my parents with the bills but also to upgrade my current car.

I nod, staring at the clock, "I'm going to sleep." I tell my parents.

"Good night honey." I hear then both say as I start walking upstairs to my room.

I open the room to my door before closing it, plopping on my bed. My eyes start closing, making me drift into a long slumber.

-

The familiar tune to my phone's ringtone startles me. I sit up really fast and search for my phone on my night table. Without looking, I take it and answer the incoming call.

"Hello." I say groggily.

Silence fills my eardrums before his voice startles me.

"You didn't go to work today?" Jungkook asks.

I sigh, turning in my bed to the other side as I cuddle more into the bedsheets, "No. I decided to sleep in because I need to rest. Seokjin knows."

He hums, "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to the dance studio today?" he asks.

"I don't mean to be rude, but why?" I ask him.

Jungkook sighs, "Bree was supposed to come with me to the class, I always like to bring her," he explains, "the kids like her. But she has an overnight shift at the supermarket tonight so she can't come."

How much of what Bree told him is true?

A sigh comes out of my mouth before I nod, forgetting that he can't see me.

"Okay. What time do I need to be there?" I ask him.

"I will pick you up in 15 minutes?" he asks nervously, Jungkook knows I don't like last minute plans most of the time.

My eyes widen at his response, "Are you kidding? 15 minutes?!"

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to call," he reasons, "I also called Jimin but–"

"He can't go because he has voluntary work at the vet on Fridays." I finish for him.

Jimin, despite studying and working at the same time, loves to do volunteer work at the veterinary. Mainly, because he gets to help animals and spend time with them. In our chat that we have for Hana, Taehyung, Jimin and I he always sends us pictures of the animals that he helps every Friday.

"I'll get dressed and wait in the porch." I let him know.

"Thank you! I'm a few minutes away from your house, I'll call you when I get there." he explains.

I turn to the window of my room and see that the sun is still up. I thought it was already dark outside. I furrow my eyebrows, what time is it?

"Wait, what time is–"

I hear his laugh, "It's 4pm, Dae."

I sit up. Rapidly I check my night table where my owl shaped clock reads exactly 4pm.

How much did I sleep?!

-

I admire him silently. He stares at the kids with such fondness and love that it makes my heart melt. His dark hair is pulled to a slight bun and the kids all huddle around him as he gives them candy for behaving well during the class. Most leave with their parents after he hands them the candy.

"Dae." I snap out of the trance and look at him, now standing in front of me with the bag of candy.

I look to him, "Yeah?" I ask.

"Pick whichever candy you want." He tells me, motioning to the bag.

I stick my hand in and fish out a lollipop.

He smiles before turning to the kids that now wait for him.

"Jungkook," one of the girls calls him by his name as he had told them to do so they don't feel uncomfortable, "You never told us who she is." she motions to me.

I chuckle, "I'm Dae." I present myself.

A kid with cute dimples asks, "Why were you in our class today?" he finishes.

I look at Jungkook who stops signaling the kid to stop talking. He smiles and stops.

"Because Bree couldn't come, so I came to help Jungkook." I say confused.

A little girl with a pink dress asks, "Who's Bree?"

"Okay! You guys got your candy, did you like it?" Jungkook starts to get nervous because he begins to bite his lip.

I stare at him but he turns to the kids, motioning them to go to their parents so they can go home. They wave goodbye at him before leaving.

After all the kids leave, he turns around before sitting down beside me on the floor. He puts his hands on the floor behind his back. Jungkook hands his head back, letting out a breath.

"So...you really never meant what you said about Bree coming with you?" I ask him after we stay silent.

He chuckles, "Made that up." he admits.

I turn to him before slightly hitting him on the shoulder.

"Are you mad at me?" he asks.

Silently I stare at him.

"Come on, Dae. I just wanted to make it up to you and spend time with you, too." he tells me, staring at me fondly.

Make it up to me? Spend time with me?

He smiles, "I'm sorry. The other day when you said something about Bree, I snapped at you," he sighs, "I never meant to."

"Jungkook–"

He shakes his head, standing up and motioning for me to take his hand.

I look at him, confused, "What are you doing?"

"Get up." he urges me.

I follow his lead. My hand graces his, his fingers interlace with mine. It sends sparks down my whole body. I try to ignore it but I cannot.

"Remember when we used to dance together back in Busan?" he asks.

I smile. When we met, he used to put music and we'd dance together as the beat when on. It was something that I never did until I met him. Now, I don't do it anymore.

But that's about to change.

"Yeah." I tell him.

He leads me to the center of the studio with him, "Well, let's dance. I have a new song from a group that one of my students recommended," he stops holding my hand to turn to the speaker, turning it on, "they're pretty good."

The melody of the song blasts through the speaker. The instrumental fills the air, Jungkook starts dancing in front of the mirror. When he does his first move, the lyrics begin.

Do your thing,
Do your thing with me now.

Do your thing,
Do your thing with me now.

What's my thing,
What's my thing?
tell me now.

Tell me now
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Closing his eyes, he lets the music take over his body. I smile, it's been a while since I've seen him dance. He hasn't changed a bit.

I start focusing on the music, moving freely. He moves to the beat of the music while I do too. The song keeps on blaring and we find ourselves dancing together.

He takes my waist and moves me with him across the room.

In a blink of the eye, the song ends. I find him looking at me, his face close to mine. Our breaths collide as one.

His eyes sparkle in the light. He looks at my lips, I do too. We start getting closer and closer until all that's left is one move to shorten our proximity.

I want to kiss him.

My conscience doesn't let me.

I can't.

So, I slightly push him away.

"I can't do this." I tell him, before jogging to where my belongings are.

He stands still, "Dae–"

"I should go home, thank you for inviting me to your class today," I say quickly, "but I should get going."

My heart beats faster as I leave the studio. I don't hear the way that my name comes out of his mouth as he calls me, I don't hear how his voice shows despair and urgency. I keep running until I leave the building behind me. Arriving to the bus stop, I stand still.

"Dae please, let me take you home at least." he pleads behind me.

I shake my head. The bus doesn't come, "It's okay Jungkook, I am taking the bus."

"No. Please, I'm sorry–"

I see the bus start to pull up. I get ready to get in fast. The only thing that stops me is his hand on my wrist.

Jungkook sighs staring at me fondly. He stays silent.

"Goodbye, Jungkook." I say before going in the bus.