>> THE room was riddled with awkwardness. 

The tap of a foot, the drumming of fingers on the table, a sigh, a nervous cough, a grim outburst of a very-much-not-hilarious joke. . . the briefest eye contact. 

And the food Jae-Ni had served was untouched. 

After an agonizing episode of this finally, finally Jae-Ni spoke up, "Guys, loosen up! This is ridiculous." 

Yoongi broke out of his stupor, starting as her fist met the table, then throwing a glare at her. He was clearly the only one who had been using the silence productively (i.e for sleeping). Namjoon seemed to shrink into himself, looking anywhere but at her. The rest of the boys seemed slightly irked, but we're more in awe by Jae-Ni's sudden authority. 

She herself didn't know what had come over her, and faltered a bit at the attention. 

"I just–i mean, you seriously can't stand it in here?" Though she knew this was not the actual cause of tension. 

They all considered her question (apart from Jungkook, who had gone back to staring at Jimin). For Namjoon, it was too much like home. That was why he couldn't stand it. Not like living with Chan-ri. But like his real home, before his life went pear shaped. It reminded him of what it felt like being cared for, when the only trouble he had was how to dress that day. Or what the mark on his exam paper was going to be. They'd all been too busy on the run to remember this feeling – this feeling of warmth, of a dining room table served with homemade, real food. Now the feeling was foreign. Unwelcome. 

But no-one answered because they all knew something much more demanding was playing on their minds. 

Yoongi sighed turning to Namjoon, "If it helps, I turned off the cameras." 

Namjoon groaned. Not helping at all. 

"Ah, why would you do that?" Everyone turned to look at Hoseok, who just continued unperturbed, "Joonie's always been an exhibitionist." 

There were a few snickers in the room at this, repressed giggles and knowing smirks (Jin was annoyed he hadn't come up with a joke first). 

Hobi continued, enjoying the uneasy looks on Jae and Namjoon's faces. He picked up his chopsticks, pointing them at Jae-Ni. "Scorpios are exhibitionist too." 

Aha! Topic change opportunity . "How did you know I'm a Scorpio?" Jae-Ni asked. 

Hoseok shrugged. "I just knew." He said quickly, as he wasn't interested anymore, eyes riveted to his plate. Hungry. 

"You're a Scorpio?" Jungkook jumped in, grabbing his sticks in immitation of one of his favourite hyungs. "Scorpio and Virgo are really compatible–" 

"So is 'shut up' and 'Jungkook'" Yoongi snapped. He was enjoying this no more than the intended victims. 

Namjoon gave Yoongi a thankful glance, before saying (in revenge), " Whoa, Kook, you're a Virgo too — do you like Jae?" 

Jungkook stopped. His food halfway to his mouth, and one cheek stuffed with food. Eyes wide as he rushed to his defence. "What?! No, I—" 

He was cut off as Jimin broke into sudden hysterics, "HA! Jungkook is—he's," Jimin laughed again, earning perplexed looks as to what was so funny. "He's gay. " 

The maknae's eyes doubled in size. 

Yoongi raised a speculative eyebrow at him. And then the rest of the guys broke into sudden commotion, animatedly asking Jungkook if it was true. Firing questions at him like infuriating interviewer, and Jungkook was suddenly a hot topic caught in paparazzi. 

Well, Namjoon's plan had sure worked. Though not in the way he'd really wanted, and he felt slightly guilty now. He looked up at the ceiling, as if saying to it 'really, this? Again?'. 

With a quiet chuckle, Jae-Ni leaned back her chair, surveying it all with content; somewhere admist the chatter, everyone had gotten comfortable and started eating. Well, that's what she thought until she spotted Taehyung. 

He sat ramrod-straight next to her. And his plate was untouched. 

"Taehyung?" She whispered, concerned. 

But he just kept on staring, nowhere in particular. His face set in a mask of indifference. 

Strange. 

A/n: and she finally updates! Sorry to anyone who was waiting btw. 

Ik this is kinda a bad chapter, but I need to get familiar with my plot again ^^' so this is kinda a filler chapter until I do. Hope you enjoyed it tho. 

Until next time, happy reading.