Eun's best friend of over ten years, leans forward, her mouth slightly agape as she says, "I'm sorry. You said you sat with who again?" and Eun immediately cringes at the volume that she's speaking at. Although the chatter from the amount  of people in the cafeteria can conceal their conversation, she still worries over the possibility of someone seated nearby, listening in.

"Lower your voice, people are gonna hear you," She hisses, "But yeah, Jungkook was just with me."

Kim Hana lets out a small giggle that she hides behind her manicured hand, "Pretty boy Jeon right? God, everyone was so obsessed with him, remember that?"

Eun can't imagine anyone ever forgetting that. Back when they were teenagers, Jungkook had active fanclubs within their highschool. Every interaction he had, served as a celebration of his popularity. He was often the topic of most conversations, and at the time, while Eun did think he was handsome, she couldn't understand the obsession.

Now that they're older, she can admit that there definitely is something there. With a bashful smile, she admits, "I kind of see why. He was honestly so sweet and charming."

Hana lets out a cackle as an immediate response, but stifles her laugh with her palm before saying, "Oh god, Eun. Are you already in love?"

Taken aback by the absurdity of her claim, Eun's eyes widen. Maybe she shouldn't have told her best friend about her conversation with Jungkook. It's been years since Eun has last been in a relationship, and Hana has been relentless in trying to get her on a date. She scoffs, "What? No! Hana please don't make this bigger than what it is, we were just having some fun getting to know each other."

"Holy shit, you want him, don't you?"

"Hana."

"Admit it, Eun. You're attracted to him," and before Eun can put an end to her accusation, Hana says a little too loudly for her liking, "Girl, what are you waiting for? Go get your man."

"I barely even know him."

"That's why you have to get to know him. He could be the man of your dreams and you don't even know it. Wouldn't that be amazing? You've been single for so long too."

Eun audibly groans.

"Happily single!" She then corrects.

"So you claim."

Eun's last relationship ended around three and a half years prior. For the entire year the two had been together, day to day life felt as though it were a series of routines rather than an intense emotional connection like everyone else had convinced her it would be.

By the end of it all, it had left Eun to wonder whether or not they truly knew each other. They lacked genuine moments and his purpose in her life was to fill a space that she soon realized hadn't needed to be filled after all.

"Not everybody needs a man in their life. I have so many things I want to accomplish. I'm in no rush to settle down."

Hana then shrugs but refuses to accept defeat, "I'm just saying. You're almost thirty and I'd like to see a man treat you right. Like the way you deserve!"

"Who're you, my mom?"

"Hey, somebody's gotta push you in the right direction and if it's not her, it's me, alright? And if Namjoon's friends aren't exactly your type then maybe Jungkook can be."

It's so much easier for Hana to view this positively when she has her own relationship with her husband as a prime example. They were inseparable since highschool and were able to celebrate every new milestone together. Even as they grew into adulthood, their level of trust, support, and love was unwavering. They found a forever within each other from the very start.  

Eun sighs, frustrated from Hana's lack of understanding, "You're definitely overestimating this conversation he and I had. We were just catching up and that's all."

Hana then beams at her before taking a swig of her  coffee, "Call it optimism!" she then stands up and collects her belongings, "Now if you'll excuse me, Joon and I are gonna go mingle with some of his old friends."

Eun can't help but feel a bit relieved at this since now she can gather her thoughts. She forces a smile in her direction as she says, "Good luck!" 

❊

Eun realizes she hates being at the reunion. With Hana being busy, she ends up having nobody to talk to for the next twenty minutes. She eventually winds up getting up to retrieve a quick snack amongst the variety of food being provided. Her chosen one being a jelly donut to pair with her third coffee of the night.

A few people have come up to ask how she's doing, majority of them having been on her dance team in the past, but nobody stays long enough to have an in depth conversation like she sees many others engaging in. It's more embarrassing than she'd like to admit.

She's in the process of stirring extra sugar in her coffee when a familiar shadow looms over her. She glances up and meets the friendly gaze of Jungkook.

"I'm glad that you're still here. Can I join you?"

A little taken aback by his reappearance, she stammers out an, "Of course!" as she gestures towards the seat he was sitting in previously. She didn't expect for him to come back, especially when there's so many others he could be talking to.

She watches as he takes a seat and readjusts his shirt so that his sleeves don't slip past his wrists. He looks a bit frazzled but she refrains from asking why. It's not as though they're friends. It would definitely be super inappropriate to pry into something that doesn't concern her.

"Sorry I left so quickly, I have a lot going on at the moment. Had to take an important call." 

Seeing this as an opportunity for some lighthearted teasing, she says, "I'm assuming popularity is still an ongoing thing for you?" and to her misfortune, his expression hardens. She must've unintentionally struck a nerve or touched a topic that she now knows they shouldn't linger on. She's immediately hit with a feeling of regret.

"No, not at all. It just had to do with some personal things." He explains stiffly. Eun runs a hand through her hair, doing her best not to cover her face from embarrassment.

"Oh! I'm sorry for assuming."

His face then softens quicker than Eun can detect.

"Don't worry about it." and in exchange he offers a gentle smile, " I'm sorry if this is a little too forward but do you maybe want to get a drink with me? I know this local place. It's very chill and I know the owners. It beats being here by a landslide."

Thankful for the invitation away from this place, she chirps out a quick, "Sure! I'm actually kind of sick of the coffee if I'm honest."

"Me too. And with the night I'm having, I could use a drink to take the edge off."