Just a reminder that the picture before every chapter is kind of a hint.
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It feels weird to feel this excited but I can't help it. It's been so long since she acknowledged me. That sounds wrong. My work. She will actually come, Jeongguk ponders as he happily gets ready to leave the dorm, grabbing everything and smiles at the boys who were waiting outside.

"You seem happy?" Hoseok pointed out as he greeted him warmly.

"Yeah," Jeongguk smiled brightly, the side of his eyes crinkling. "Yun Hee will come today."

"That's great," Namjoon said with a small smile, hoping that everything would work out as the last time, there wasn't much luck.

Jeongguk nodded his head and they got in their respective cars.

Taehyung decided to sit with the younger as he felt it was about time they talked. He was so caught up with his own life and feeling sorry for himself that he realized he must have ignored Jeongguk, thinking he wouldn't want to hang out anymore like they used to. He shouldn't have pushed all the members just cause they were in their own relationships, but Taehyung felt so out of place, his stomach knotted with the mere idea, but he pushed it aside.

"Jeongguk, we should talk, Taehyung started hesitantly as he wasn't sure if this was the right time to talk.

Maybe later, Taehyung thought as he didn't want to upset him when he looked so cheery.

"Sure," Jeonguk replied but he tilted his head when he noticed Taehyung fidgetting his fingers. "Hyung, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am okay," Taehyung said as he snapped his head upwards just enough to see him, but still not meeting his eyes, afraid he would snap like branches on trees unprepared for their demise.

"Come on Taehyung, we are best friends," Jeongguk whined, bringing a smile to Taehyung's face.

"Jeongkookie," Taehyung said softly. "You don't talk to me anymore."

Jeongguk's heart sink when he heard Taehyung speak. He felt guilty that Taehyung from all people would think like this, but could he really blame him when all Jeongguk did was push everyone away?

"I'm sorry," Jeongguk answered him sadly as he shook his head. "You shouldn't feel like this. I promise nothing has changed between us. How about video games later?"

"Sure, I'll beat you though," Taehyung threatened jokingly as he felt better after talking to him.

"We will have to see because I pretty much never lose," Jeongguk replied as a smirk played on his face.

***********
Cecilia and Eira stood awkwardly as everyone seemed to know exactly what they were supposed to do except them. They hadn't done anything official and somehow their first time was BTS from all people. This wasn't supposed to happen, and they were both questioning how there was a sudden change in their schedule. Finally, one of the makeup artists noticed their presence and turned around to face them.

"You must be new?" the young woman asked politely.

They both nodded as she started explaining to them how everything works. From the way she described it, it seemed simple and not too difficult, but both girls knew that when the time came, they would be fighting time itself.

The members walked inside and both girls froze at their place. The makeup artist who had shown them around ushered them to move forward and they did, finding themselves stuck right in front of the boys.

"I guess it's up to the boys who they would want to go with," The makeup artist told them, and this was most probably the most awkward thing both girls had faced. Cecilia looked down and Eira stared everywhere other than where the boys stood.

"I'll go with Eira," Taehyung spoke and gave his boxy smile to Eira, breaking the silence.

"I'll go with Cecilia," Jimin said with a big smile and could feel Jeongguk's eyes on him.

When will this boy learn? Jimin thought in his head. He wasn't sure about what to make of Jungkook's lingering gaze or the fact that he remained quiet instead of voicing his thoughts, so Jimin did it for him.

"And so will Kook," Jimin told them as he smiled at Jeongguk brightly.

It would be a lie that Jeongguk wasn't shocked by what Jimin had just done, but it wasn't a big deal or at least that's what he told himself.

"Yeah," Jeongguk smiled in her direction and Cecilia was frightened to death. She couldn't imagine placing her hands on any of them especially Jeongguk. It would feel wrong as if she was taking advantage even though it's her job. There were supposed to be no feelings involved and the fact that she kept ending up in situations made it almost impossible to get her mind off him.

Hoseok immediately volunteered next and the rest of the boys went to the other make up artist that they had forgotten to ask the name of.

Cecilia had to do Jimin's make up first and she was grateful when Jimin gave her a thumbs up in the mirror for the encouragement which definitely unknotted some of the bundling nerves.

She already knew what she was supposed to do and took the brush and hesitantly hovered over his face. Her heart was pounding, and she felt herself going blank the moment she looked at Jimin.

"Are you okay?" Jimin asked as his eyes softened while looking at her. Cecilia smiled and nodded, taking the brush and finally placing it on his skin. She tried her best not to think about who was in front of her, but it wasn't easy as it was Park Jimin himself sitting right in front of her and she had to make him look good. It was like working with an already built sculpture and adding the paint.

Cecilia was grateful when Jimin started talking to her a bit during the thing, diverting her attention from all the thoughts racing through her head and she could tell with the way the brush glided across his skin, that he most probably had soft skin.

"Um I think Jeongguk thinks, we are dating," Jimin stated suddenly that Cecilia almost dropped the eyeshadow palette in her hands.

"Sorry what?" Cecilia asked, hoping she had heard him wrong, but when Jimin continued, she couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, it's pretty clear because he kept hinting it to me," Jimin explains. "I was thinking to let him think that way unless if you mind of course."

"Why would you do that?" Cecilia questioned confused as the whole situation seemed so weird that she was pretty sure it should be a dream.

"Jeongguk is not in love with Yun Hee anymore," Jimin continued on. "He used to be, but it's pretty clear to me that he isn't and I want him to realize that already. He keeps playing with his life and thinks it will be all okay and I don't even want to make him sad but I'm pretty sure Yun Hee won't come. She never did except at the beginning of their relationship."

Cecilia listened intently, but she wasn't sure what this got to do with her pretending to date Jimin.

"What's got to do with me?" Cecilia asked after Jimin had finished.

"He likes you," Jimin stated all of the blue and this time she did end up dropping something.The eyeshadow brush tumbled to the ground and she  bent down to pick it up.

She blinked a couple of times staring at him and laughed.

"He not like me that way," Cecilia tried telling him, not understanding why on earth would Jimin think Jeongguk would ever like her. "I'm sure you think Yun Hee and Jeongguk having problems but all couples do and they will be fine."

Cecilia finally worked on Jimin's lips so he couldn't say more, but she couldn't hide the fact that Jimin's words churned something in her.

"Done," Cecilia smiled at him.

"So, will you do it?" Jimin asked her ,before leaving and when he looked at her with those puppy eyes, she already knew she would regret this later.

"I not help you with rumor but okay," Cecilia said, not believing she actually agreed to this, and if Jimin thought Jeongguk would be affected, she was sure he would prove Jimin wrong because how could someone so excited to see his fiancée would like anyone else, especially a girl like her.

Thinking about the devil, Jeongguk appeared with his hair styled into beautiful dark messy curls and her breath hitched at the beauty he really was.

Jeongguk gave her a small smile and sat right in front of her. She thought it was hard to be near Jimin but now forget thinking, she forgot how to breathe or move properly. Was it really possible to feel so much for someone? She wasn't sure and all her feelings seemed invalid to her anyway.

She lowered herself down so she could access his face better, and held her breath once again as her eyes met with large, gorgeous, brown eyes that always held the whole galaxy in them. She lowered her gaze and started working on his make up silently.

Should I say something? We talked before. Gosh, this is awkward and all I can think of is what Jimin said, Cecilia pondered in her head, not realizing she had slowly stopped working during the whole thing.

"Uh, Cecilia?" Jeongguk state, knocking her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry," she replied and went to start doing eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Jeongguk asked while his eyes remained closed. "I know this must be tough, but you are doing well for the first time."

"Thank you," Cecilia replied softly and continued working.

Jeongguk wanted to continue talking as he knew she was talking to Jimin just normally a few minutes ago. He wondered how close they could have gotten for her to talk to him, but didn't talk to someone she spent every week with. Maybe they weren't as close as he thought, but then what about all the time they chatted together, that should count for something. Before he could gather his thoughts, she was done.

He smiled at her and left, suppressing all his cageless thoughts.

What is she doing to me? I have officially lost it, he thought as he shook his head and went to change.

Jeongguk gathered around with the rest of the members and started waiting to see if Yun Hee was there. She hadn't appeared while he was getting ready so he thought maybe, she was in the crowd.

The rest of the members couldn't help but look at him in pitty as he looked so excited to see her, his eyes widening cutely as he searched the crowd.

"Joonie," Jade stated as she wrapped her arms around her boyfriend lovingly.

"You came?!" Namjoon asked excitedly as a big smile spread across his face and he returned the hug, inhaling her sweet scent he adored. They had been dating for a while now and he was grateful that she kept him grounded because he literally had no control over his feelings for her, and even though she did let her guard down,she made sure he never neglected his work even though she was his top priority now.

"Why wouldn't I come?" Jade questioned smiling back. "This is your first stage in a while and guess what? I'm going to be here for all of them."

"You are the best," Namjoon told her as he looked at her, admiring the way her light brown strands fell on her gorgeous golden skin.

Jade greeted the boys and noticed Jeongguk searching in the crowd and looked back at everyone and finally understood why she felt the atmosphere was a bit off before she had announced her presence.

"Yun Hee," she mouthed with her lips and everyone nodded directly. Jade already knew the answer Jeongguk was searching for, and she felt stuck not knowing what path she should take. Yun Hee should have been more honest with him. He didn't deserve to ruin a performance for her sake.

"Hey Jeongguk," Jade called out and Jeongguk turned around. "Want to make a bet?"

"A bet?" Jeongguk questioned blinking his eyes at her.

"Yeah, so basically if you can perform without looking at the crowd but making them think you are looking, then I'll treat you to lamb skewers," Jade suggested with a tease in her voice. She hoped using his competitive spirit would make him forgot about his fiancée until everything was over.

"I want to look at Yun Hee though," Jeongguk pouted and he looked so cute that Jade was about to drop her deal, but stayed firm knowing that no one wanted to see him sad.

"She said she is coming so she could be a bit late," Namjoon told him and looked up to see the manger telling them to go. "We have to go on stage now, so do your best from the beginning until the end because she could come the moment you start."

Jeongguk smiled and followed the rest of the members, forgetting for a while about who he was looking for.

Jade moved back and ended up bumping into the girl behind her.

"I'm so-" Jade was about to apologize, but was shocked to encounter her and blurted out in English. "Aren't you the girl on the news?"

Cecilia stared up at her in horror and she couldn't believe she had already ruined her impression on Namjoon's girlfriend already. Actually, she was pretty sure her whole life was ruined because if anyone ever dug far enough into her past, they would find out she was a runaway bride and an idol in training, pretty much making her the perfect girl for scandals.

"Yeah," she said with a sigh, knowing that lying would get her no where. She had no idea why Eira was a blushing mess and refused to be anywhere near the stage, but she was going to get it out of her eventually.

"Sorry that came out wrong," Jade apologized when she noticed Cecilia's expression drop. "Namjoon told me about you and you guys seem pretty stuck, so I understand. The news thing was a headline so it slipped without much thinking."

Cecilia gave her a small smile and felt her muscles relax to know that not everyone hated her just yet.

"It's okay," Cecilia smiled.

"If you want, we could hang out together," Jade suggested and she still felt guilty about what she had said earlier.

That's not how you make friends, she scolded herself mentally.

"You must be busy with the comeback, but after that, I would love to know you more and oh, bring your friend along too," Jade added with a smile, hoping she hadn't scared her away yet and to her surprise, Cecilia didn't run away but only blinked a couple of times.

"That sounds fun," Cecilia replied with a huge grin as her brain malfunctioned trying to comprehend who in their right minds would invite someone like her outside, but when she looked at how Jade's face held a gleam of excitement, she was pretty sure it was real. Jade had made Cecilia note down her number and headed to watch the performance, leaving Cecilia to stare at her phone that reflected off the number.

*******

Okay, I know this chapter feels like a waste and you have every right to question this chapter. At least you met someone new though..right?

I have online classes so it feels like I have school all over again and for some reason, I decided to try the new dalgona coffee and it was fun while I didn't drink it because now I feel like I'm full of energy one moment and the other second, I have a headache. Why coffee?

Oh and more excuses from me, I can't write anymore. I feel unmotivated but then Jeongguk posted and I felt motivated, so you guys got lucky.

Perfect motivation when he only post once a month 😭

Why is Eira shy?

How will Jeongguk react?

What do you think of Jade? (You better like her)

What do you think will happen next?

See you all soon. Bye!!!

Take care and stay safe please,

Anera