Happy Jin Day💕

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Taehyung's POV, 

I tried all week learning electronic keyboard from Jennie. 

Every time my fingers slipped, jammed over the keys, made jarring noises, she patiently observed not being annoyed and corrected me. Even complimented that my fingers were slender and flexible, perfect for playing any musical instrument and one day maybe I would become a famous musician. However I could not entirely agree with her. The effort musicians put behind producing great music was more important than the external aspect. In other words, the size of your hands or the shape of your fingers didn't really matter, it was you who made the instrument alive.

She smiled at me, lightly hit my forehead with her fingertips when I told her that and asked me to play the tune of a nursery rhyme which I adopted recently. 

After a month of my stay here on earth I really felt comfortable around humans. 

There  was something so lovely about shopping with friends, watching basketball matches together and talking about it afterwards. Staying up all night to watch horror movies, eating from the same plate of food less worrying about hygiene were the things I couldn't even imagine doing in BT. 

Jimin and Hoseok were warm and friendly. They never made me feel like an outsider. We had so much fun during our little outing this weekend where I almost passed out laughing when they were sharing their most embarrassing moments as a penalty of a bottle game. 

Too upsetting, I couldn't participate. That would reveal so much. 

All of the surprises, Shooky looked more lively these days; hanging out with professors, talking with students, even bought me a mobile phone; at the cheapest price though, but that made me happy. 

As for my research here on earth I did a survey with some of the kids I found sitting on the lawn, asked them about their likes, dislikes, views on life and politics, problems and how they usually dealt with them etcetera. The most common problem in their lives they said was those green currencies called money. It wasn't like they didn't have money at all like me. Studying in this music school was pretty expensive, and only a few had gotten the scholarships. One of the girls I met said, 'We came here to achieve our dreams and make money with it. But now we know there is no such thing as a 'dream job'. Reality is a nightmare and nobody can set a God damn alarm to come out of it. There won't be any dreams after stepping into the bigger world. In the end we all have to choose professionalism over creativity.' 

I had sent that survey report yesterday along with that previous quote, which ended with a personal note—Young humans try to be better versions of their parents. They dream of doing something amazing in life, but fear it would only waste their time. The continuous pressure from their parents to find a job, earn money to level up their social status keeps them alarmed, distracted. With narrow, unsavory options most of them end up doing the wrong things. Waste their labours. If only their government takes care of their daily needs like ours and forbids them from keeping personal property, they'll certainly live better than now. 

  "Taehyung," Jennie drew my attention to a black key near my right index, "You were supposed to go from C sharp, not the D."

  "Oh!" I inadvertently made a mistake again, "Sorry, I,"

  "Don't worry," Jennie said. "It's normal to fumble in the beginning."

  "You've improved a lot, Taehyung. I'm surprised." Namjoon said from behind us. I half turned to face him, shyly smiled with a small thanks. His eyes behind his half-rim glasses were bright and honest. "We would gladly take you in our band if there wasn't just a week left for the competition."

  "No, it's totally fine. I know how important the compilation is to you guys." I saw him nodding. My eyes traveled to the door when it whooshed open and Jungkook walked in. 

Like other days he was wearing his natural grace, that magnetic aura that had exorcised my mind. 

His dark chocolate eyes met mine only for a second before turning to Namjoon. An apologetic smile formed on his lips. 

  "We know our band leader is handsome, but that can't excuse his late arrival. '' Jennie playfully remarked when he took his position beside her. 

  Jungkook chuckled softly and turned to her, "I guess I am already forgiven as my bandmates aren't throwing hands on me and talking nicely."

  "I'm ready to throw myself on you baby, just show me the green flag." Jennie being Jennie replied with a flirtatious grin. 

  Jungkook's smile transformed into a curious smirk, "Good things come to those who wait. Baby." 

My jaw dropped inside my mouth. Wondering if he was the same guy who used to avoid cliche talks! 

  "But I've heard good things come to those who go and get them!" Jennie's expressive brown eyes beamed, getting full sentences from her crush for the first time. And of course the nickname was surprising, "What do you say, baby boy? Should I march?"

  "Keep bullfighting. The bull would only come to you if it actually wants you." Jungkook looked straight at my eyes as if these words were for me, not her. And I found myself hypnotised again before his gaze, could feel those butterflies that were stretching their wings in my stomach.

  "Ok enough with this flirting," Namjoon's sticks on the snare drums rolled once to get our attention, "Shall we start practicing?"

  "Yep, let's begin." Jungkook tore the stare from mine and gave his attention to his guitar. He flexed his fingers, fixed that thick metal ring in his middle finger before putting them over the strings. Ready to hit the base. 

    .♫ "You are the sunlight that rose again in my life…." ♫.

They played the first song that was going to be performed in the first round: Euphoria. 

      .♫ "A reincarnation of my childhood dreams." ♫.

I took the empty chair at the other side of the room as it was so delightful to see them perform. I tried focusing on the performance but my eyes kept averting to Jungkook. 

Last week my attempt at making small talk with my subject 2x leveled up. He talked with me nicely. Paid attention whenever I called him. Sometimes I could see little smiles on his face when I said or did something silly. Most of all he didn't act closed off like before. And today seeing him being all chatty, playful, flirty with everyone, I knew something good must have happened. 

         .♫ "I'm so happy, I can't breathe

Everything's getting blurry" ♫. 

This line hit me with a flashback of today's morning when he was singing the same song, under the shower——

8:30. am. 

Jimin had gone to buy apples for breakfast from the grocery across the street and Jungkook was in the bathroom. I was taking pictures of the huge peach tree outside the window, beautiful with visible dormant buds and birds chirping around. The quality of my phone camera was average, but I wanted to capture everything that got my attention. A year later sitting in my capsule I may find this picture and recall my memories in this dormitory again. 

That was when I heard Jungkook singing this song. 

The sound of running water dimmed his relaxed low voice. As I already knew the lyrics I filled the unheard lines from my memory, but  the constant noise of cars outside was distracting. So I closed the window and went near the bathroom. Leaning my entire upper body against the door I tried to hear him clearly. 

  .♫ "I'm so happy, I can't breathe…………." ♫. 

His heavenly voice overwhelmed my ears. My eyes closed. 

A minute later the front door opened. Jimin came in holding a plastic bag. 

  "Has your face stuck with the plywood?" his brows furrowed as he saw me. "You're looking like a lizard."

  "Ah," That was embarrassing. And it would be more if I told him the actual reason. "I need to pee and he's not coming out."

  "Then," He gestured with his fist, "Just break the door. I'll not like swiping to clean a big baby's mess."

  "How could you think that? Jeez!" I snorted with a shy smile. 

Was going to step back but the bathroom door opened soundlessly and I, losing balance, fell over the person inside, but immediately got caught and secured in the embrace of his strong arms. 

Speechless, I looked into his eyes. I saw his pupils dilating, lips parted and his  warm  breath reaching me. He was too stunned as if he just saw Santa Claus breaking in through the chimney. 

Move Tata, move! 

My brain stopped functioning. 

The feeling of his bare chest pressed against mine triggered those blue butterflies again. 

My hand on his semi-wet chest, loosened by the suddenness, slowly slid to his abs. I'd seen this countless times when he came out of the bathroom like this: wrapping his private properties with just a towel. But experiencing it with my naked hands for the first time was inexplicable. 

His after-bath scent, fresh breath froze my legs, cheeks heated under his intense stare. Wet hair over his fine forehead making him look like an anime. And his exposed tattoos upto his shoulder where my other hand was was just like a dream. 

What was wrong with me? Why did I want this dream to never end? 

   "I guess," Jimin cleared his throat, "This is not the beginning scene of an erotic movie."

Jungkook blinked when he was finally aware of our position. The muscle of his arms tensed around my waist that left a tingling feeling in my skin. But only for a second. It was the startled look on my face that changed his, and he immediately moved away. 

I was back to the earth again. 

  Jungkook walked past me and searched for his clothes on his bed. The awkwardness in his  movement made him sloth. "Jimin," He said without looking at Jimin, "I needed some notes from Mr Bang's class. Yesterday I was tired and couldn't focus on his lullaby. Can you-"

  "I have it." I spoke before Jimin could respond and leaped to my table and frantically searched for my blue notebook. "Wait a sec, I put it here."

  Jungkook quickly slipped into his black hoodie and glanced at me asking, "You noted all of it?" 

  "Yes." I found my notebook buried under a thick theoretical book. Again leaped to Jungkook to hand him. "But you might have a hard time cracking the Taetaegraphy."

  "No problem." He said, holding the other side of the notebook, tugging, but my grip didn't lose. He flashed me a quizzical look. "What?"

  "What, what?" I whispered, finding myself lost in his doe eyes again.

Control Tata. He's still in his towels. 

  "Tae. Babe," Jimin's voice alarmed. I let go of the notebook, flashed him an apologetic simper and turned at Jimin. 

  "Yep?" 

  "Has your pee forgot to resolute and glide backwards?" He reminded me what I'd already forgotten. 

  "Uhm, Maybe it just got offended for holding it for too long." I faked a laugh and made my escape to the bathroom. 

  "Ok, that was a funny one." I heard him say when I closed the door and ran the shower in full force over my heated head. 

A light knock. 

And I was back to the music room. Glanced at the door when Lalisa came in. 

  "Hey," She greeted Jennie and everyone and took a chair beside me. I smiled looking at her, she did too. The tiny moment we'd spent together was my most emotional moment on earth. For the first time in my life I felt sad for someone. A different kind of sadness that forced me to think as if I were the person in pain. Today looking at her bright smiling face, I actually felt relief. 

  "Everyone, I've something to say." Jennie said when the songs were finally over. She stood before her keyboard clasping her little hands together over her chest. "Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm inviting all of you to my house for a pool party."

  "Awesome" Namjoon came and embraced her petite frame, making her almost vanish from my view, "Happy birthday in advance."

I glanced at Lalisa and found her smiling beautifully at her. She knew it before her saying and maybe had prepared something special for her. But her smile dried when Jennie went to Jungkook and put her arms looped around his  neck. 

  "I'll be waiting for you. Baby."

  I was expecting Jungkook would shrug her hands off but he didn't. In fact he hugged and softly said, "Sure. Happy birthday."

  "I'll be waiting for the birthday kiss as well." She whispered seductively in his ear and left a small peck there.

Something inside me churned. 

This was so wrong. 

  Not entirely sure what came over me, but I shot up against them and pulled Jungkook by his shoulder. Avoiding his confused stare landing on me,  I hugged Jennie tightly, patting her back. "Thank you for inviting me, Jennie. You're such a sweetheart." 

  "Ok, ok big boy." She pat-patted my back mirroring me. "I'll text you the adress. Okay?"

  "Don't worry. Jungkook and I will be there on time." I said a little louder than usual. 

As much as I like the evenings here on earth, I didn't get time to enjoy it. It was a Friday night and there was going to be a houseful so we had to rush for our part time job.

  "Aren't you cold?" Jungkook asked me when we came down to the street, "You're underdressed."

  "I forgot to bring any sweaters from my home. I'm planning to buy some after getting my first payment." I replied as I walked through the footpath, shivering slightly with the sudden blowing breeze. It would be my first time getting paid for a job and I was pretty much excited to buy the earthy things I'd wishlisted. 

  "Sounds good." He said, walking beside me, casually holding the handle of his bicycle frame. "You can ask me or Jimin anytime if you need anything." His deep voice held genuinity, a warmth that made me assured that there was someone on the earth whom I could rely on. 

  I hummed in response and asked him back,   "Are you going to walk all the way?" 

  "The weather is nice." He said. 

That I knew. 

  "Nice weather to ride a bike." I mentioned. "You may go. I know how exhausted you are. Also we've got to get ready for the club."

  Jungkook spontaneously laughed. I loved the way his face became childlike and innocent but couldn't get why he did that. Glancing at me when I stopped walking, he said, "It was me who would tell you to hurry everytime. Now you've saying the same language."

  "I've learned from you." I said, clearing my throat, "Since we're living at the same place, working together, studying together, I guess I've adopted a speck of your nature."

  "Uh huh! Not because of that." He came a step closer, a fine smirk playing on his lips, "You've observed me a little too much."

The confidence behind his voice surprised me. He was looking into my eyes so deeply that I couldn't blink. What was he implying? Did he notice that my eyes were on him all the time? Or he had got the wrong impression that I was interested in him? 

Whatever it was, I needed to make myself clear. We were from different stars and could never become companions. I was only interested in him because of my job and probably would forget about him after returning to my home. And he too. Out of sight, out of mind. That's what it was supposed to be—that's what I thought. But…….. I felt something ironically changing inside me, scattering my beliefs when we were together; or when we were not together. My eyes could only find him in a myriad of faces. My heart longed for him when he was not beside me. I should not think like a human: I was not a human— the thought itself was ironic. 

  "Maybe. But I'm really impressed with your singing style." I tried to sound like a cool fan. "You are amazing. Your voice has a unique quality that can touch minds. In my opinion you've the best voice in Korea. Not only in Korea but in the world. Yeah." 

  "I am moved?" He again laughed that beautiful kind of laugh making my stupid sonta heart race. Then he said, "Ok, I'm not laughing. Sorry." 

  He tried making his face serious, but let go easily. 

  "I am telling the truth." I quietly said. There were times when I spoke from my heart. But humans didn't get it as they sound the same as my lies. 

We started walking again.

  "I was thinking, It may take you days to learn to stabilize your voice. And you play guitar so well. What got you interested?" I asked. 

  He took some time to answer, "My dad was a normal office worker. Playing guitar was his hobby. However he could beat many duplicate musicians in today's time, he chose to keep his talent low and used to play the guitar whenever he felt like it. I'd seen him staying up late, practicing all night, totally immersing into the abyss of melody. He was my idol. His vocals were far better than mine. There was such passion in his voice that made me interested in learning everything that he did. I'm just trying to copy my father in an attempt to find him in my music. That's it."

  Jungkook caught me staring at him and smiled. His eyes became glossy, maybe thinking about his father, I held his other hand and started walking silently beside him. 

My nose tip froze in the cold wind. I suppressed a sneeze looking to the other side. Warmth was generating though where my hand was connected with his but that wasn't enough. Three more days to get my salary and I was buying something warmer to keep myself unfreeze on earth. 

  "What about you?" He asked a moment later. I turned to him, His eyes held the softest moonlight. "Why did you choose music out of all the subjects?" 

  I sighed looking upward at the stars, shrugged and looked back at him, "I like the emotion. Music is all about expressing emotions. I guess that was the thing I'm lacking."

  "You're perfect." 

Not more than you—I didn't say aloud. 

 The brightness of his eyes dimmed abruptly when he said, "Does your fiance think like you too?"

He was bringing this so often. Why couldn't he just forget about my annoying, stupid, grumpy partner-for-next-three-years and let me too? Sometimes I felt like he was more interested in knowing him than me. 

Should I just send him to BT with Shooky instead? 

  "Never seen him listening to any songs before." I said flatly, pouting. 

  "Oh." 

Things between us got awkward whenever he brought up that topic. 

My hand touched the cold wind when he suddenly pulled his back. Paused. Cursed a monosyllabic word glancing at his watch. "It's seven already! Come on! Hurry up! Move your legs faster. We're already late. Shit!" He climbed on his bike and beckoned me to get behind him. "And you're paying 500 won for this when we get back to the dorm, alright?"

That's more like my subject. 

  "Got it." I said putting my hands on his slim waist, holding him tightly as he paddled fast.

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Love you. Take care💜💜💜