Park Jimin was at it again. The man was like a tom cat in constant heat, always looking for the next thing he could hump, always trying to mark his territory. While Yoongi was doing his spiel to introduce the next song, Jimin sat next to Kim Yeoreum on the other side of the radio booth. Why the man was even there when his show was already over, Yoongi didn't know. Frowning, he stared at the screen in front of him where the title and the artist of the song flashed.

"Yeah, uh, so... well---" What did Jimin say that made Yeoreum smile at him like that? "---here's Decalcomania by Jeon Jungkook."

Damn, I totally screwed that up!

Through the glass separating them, Yoongi glared at both Jimin and Yeoreum. Neither of them noticed, of course, because for some reason, whatever Jimin was saying was oh so amusing. Lowering his mic volume, he cracked his knuckles then typed a message on their studio group chat.

Min Yoongi: Kim Yeoreum-nim, if you're done flirting, can you please prepare for the next segment?

He pressed the "remind" button to cause the chatbox to shake.

Slow Rabbit: Kekekeke

Slow Rabbit: *takes out the popcorn*

Kwon Do Hyeong, AKA Slow Rabbit, was their sound mixer. After giving Yoongi a cheeky grin, he elbowed Yeoreum and brought her attention to the chat. After reading his message, she had the gall to look annoyed. Meanwhile, Jimin said something that caused Yeoreum to roll her eyes.

What did he say? And why isn't she replying to my chat?

He pressed the remind button again. Soon after, he received Yeoreum's reply.

Yeoreum(*3*): If you read the broadcast clock, you'll know you're supposed to read the letter next.

Yeoreum(*3*): Then we'll be taking calls.

Yeoreum(*3*): Also, I don't appreciate the flirting comment. Let's keep it professional, okay?

Slow Rabbit: :O

Slow Rabbit: Shots have been fired!!!

Yoongi looked up. She was staring directly at him. Even from a few feet away, he could tell she was furious. Curiously, though, he was thrilled by the fact. At least now, Jimin no longer held her attention. Smirking, he typed his reply.

Min Yoongi: I read it and I'm just doing my job

Min Yoongi: while reminding you to do yours

Slow Rabbit: Wooo this is getting heated

Slow Rabbit: Shall I call the fire brigade?

Yeoreum(*3*): Shut up, Do Hyeong-ssi!

Min Yoongi: Shut up, hyung!

Slow Rabbit: Is this what it's like to be caught in the crossfire? *thinking*

Through his headphones, Yoongi heard Jungkook's voice crooning the bridge of the song. Even though he wanted to reply, he knew it was best he leave it for now and focus on his work. Unlike Kim Yeoreum's claims, he was, indeed, a professional. Anyway, it looked like Park Jimin was leaving. At the moment, he was picking up his bag and walking out the door.

Good riddance.

Grinning, he grabbed the file with today's letter, turned up his mic, and got ready to speak. As soon as the last melodies faded, Yoongi leaned forward.

"Yes, that was Jeon Jungkook with his latest track Decalcomania. You're back at Kkul FM 06.13, with your sweet, honey boy DJ, Min Suga!"

He cued a sound effect of a crowd breaking into applause.

"Now I don't know about you, but there's a part in that song that really moved me. The part that goes 'Do you even see me? Do you know who I am?' No matter what context you use to interpret that -- whether it's a lover talking about unrequited love or one's inner self confronting the persona -- that f--*bleep* hurts."

Even though he bleeped out his cursing, Yeoreum was still staring daggers his way. She had told him several times to quit doing it, but Yoongi felt listeners liked it when he kept it real, so he did it anyway. Besides, it was fun to annoy her. Served her right for pulling that shit with Park Jimin 'right in front of his salad,' as the kids used to say.

"And you know what hurts even more?" he went on. "Today's letter from our favorite letter sender, Juliet. Shall I read it for you?"

He flipped some papers in front of his mic so listeners could also hear it rustling. "Here it goes." Adapting the deepest narrator voice he could muster, Yoongi started reading.

~~~~~~

I'm here, always next to you, but why can't you see me? I'm here, still loving you, but you don't even recognize me. That time, you said you're a fool for loving me first. Now I want to say, I'm the greater fool for loving you last.

---To Romeo, From Juliet

~~~~~~

Instinctively, he grasped the table until his knuckles turned white. There was something about these letters. Something that made invisible claws sink into his chest making him hurt and bleed through invisible wounds. Worse, this reaction happened every damn time. Regulating his breathing, he went on to his next spiel. "W-wow, whoever this Romeo is, he seems like a darn fool. If there's someone around you who loves you so much, won't you at least be able to feel it? But maybe Romeo really is blind? What do you guys think? We'll be taking callers so dial our number: 134-340. We'll be back after a commercial break!"

Playing the advertisement track, Yoongi pulled down his headphones and took a long sip from his thermos of warm water. Liquid spilled from the corner of his lips. His hand was shaking. Quickly, he returned his thermos to its place before he damaged the expensive equipment in front of him.

"Hey, we've got a caller on the line," Yeoreum said from the door.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Thanks! You could have just sent me a chat message."

"I-I know, but you looked kind of pale. I wanted to check if you're okay?"

He snorted. "I'm always pale. Anyway, I'll talk to the caller."

"All right." With a small smile, she went out.

Again, guilt niggled at his conscience.

Ah, why can't you just treat her better?

It won't kill him to be just a tad bit friendlier and polite, but she always had a way of raising his hackles. He himself couldn't understand why. Sighing, he turned on the phone line and picked up the blinking phone.

"Hello?" Looking at the screen, he gave the caller information a quick scan. "Kim Taehyung-ssi?"

"Hello! Is this Min Suga-nim?"

The man on the line had a deep, soulful voice that could rival any radio jockey. Pleasantly surprised, Yoongi replied, "Yes, speaking."

"I'm a huge fan! Oh my god! Am I on air?"

"Not yet, but you will be soon. Are you ready?"

Yoongi heard the caller take a deep breath.

"Yes, yes, I have so many theories."

"That's great! I can't wait to hear them. Is it okay if I call you by your name or would you prefer I use an alias?"

"Oh right!" Kim Taehyung paused. "Yes, how about we use strawberry lover? I've always wanted to use that."

"Sure, alright then, Mr. Strawberry Lover. Get ready. We'll be on-air in three, two,---"

While he was counting down, he turned on the phone button on his console. Once the advert track ended, he spoke again. "Welcome back to Kkul FM 06.13. On the line, we have Strawberry Lover-ssi from Daegu. Hello?"

"Omo, hello everyone," Taehyung said, his voice rising every syllable.

Realizing this one's going to be an excitable caller, Yoongi adjusted his voice levels a bit, before going back to the conversation. "So, I heard you have a theory about our Mr. Romeo and Ms. Juliet?"

"Yes, I've been following these letters from the beginning and thought about them so much I couldn't sleep, but then it hit me. I think it's the Forget-Me soju---"

"Wait, hang on, Strawberry Lover-ssi, we're not allowed to mention brands so let's call it the 'green bottle drink', shall we?"

"Ah, yes. Sorry!"

Yoongi smiled at the repentant tone. "Don't worry about, Strawberry Lover-ssi. Sorry for interrupting. Do go on."

"Oh yes! It's the, uh, the green bottle drink, I think. I'm thinking, just like in the story Romeo and Juliet, maybe Romeo-ssi and Juliet-ssi also had an ill-fated love so they both decided to forget each other by drinking the green bottle drink. But just like in the story, maybe there's some miscommunication and this time, only Romeo-ssi drank it so then, Juliet-ssi now has to live as the only one who remembers."

"Wow!" Yoongi cued in the applause track. "That's... I really think you have something there. In fact, halfway through your theory, my heart started beating so fast. Wait, let me move closer to the mic." He played a heartbeat sound effect. "Can you all hear that? Thank you, Strawberry Lover-ssi, for sharing that with us. Are you a detective by any chance?"

Kim Taehyung laughed. "Ah no, I just like thinking a lot while I'm working on the fields. I'm a fruit farmer, you see."

"I see! Well, then, thank you so much for staying up late and calling. I hope we don't keep you from sleep anymore."

"Oh, it's okay! I really like listening to your show. It helps me relax after a long day. By the way, is it okay if I greet my parents?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Hi, mom and dad! I'm now on Kkul FM! Also to my dog, Yeontan-ie! Thank you so much, Suga-nim."

"Thank you, too, Strawberry Lover-ssi. I'll say goodbye now, okay?"

"Okay! Bye!"

After line cut off, Yoongi turned off the phone switch, then went on to say his final spiel. "So what do you guys think about Strawberry Lover-ssi's theory? Interesting, right? Leave your comments on our website -- www.kkul0613.fm -- and we'll read some of them tomorrow. Unfortunately--" He started the last song in his playlist, lowering the volume so that the slow track remained in the background, "--it's time to end the show. As always, I'll leave you with something to think about. Here's our quote of the day: 'You were born to be real; not to be perfect.' See you all tomorrow! Good night and sweet dreams, everyone!"

Turning up the volume of the song,  Yoongi closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the warm notes filtering through his ears. Just like always, the satisfaction he always got at the end of every show pumped molasses into his veins making him slightly dazed and sluggish.

Ah, it's done.

"Good job, Min Yoongi-ssi."

Lifting his heavy lids, Yoongi peered up and found Kim Yeoreum standing next to him. He was no longer startled by the fact. Ever since they met, she always popped up whenever, wherever. A sarcastic reply danced at the tip of his tongue, but remembering his resolution to be kinder, Yoongi smiled, instead.

"Thank you. You make my job easy."

Her eyes grew round. "Are you sure you feel okay?"

She placed a cool hand against his brow. Automatically, he held her wrist and pulled it away. Although he meant to let her go as quickly as possible, somehow, his touch lingered. Her skin felt silky smooth under the pad of his thumb. Yoongi curbed the urge to rub it. Meanwhile, Kim Yeoreum didn't make any move to withdraw her hand, either. On the contrary, she looked at him with her shiny bright eyes, a little smile lifting a corner of her lips.

"Would you like to go out with me?" she asked.

"H-huh?"

"I mean like for dinner." Finally, she tugged her hand away and used it to smooth down her hair. "Right now, since... since the show is over."

She was gnawing at her lower lip. He knew she expected him to turn her down. This was not the first time she asked, after all. Previously, he couldn't be bothered. All he wanted was to go home after work. Now, however, he was... Yoongi looked for the right words.

Curious? That's it. I'm just curious.

Why was she always around him like the moon circling the earth? And why, after trying so hard to ignore her, does he care? It was the way she looked at him. He'd noticed it from the beginning. Even though he was sure he'd never met her before, she'd always treated him as if he was someone familiar. Always, she caressed him with that warm, brown gaze, and he a man not quite made of stone, couldn't help but respond.

"Fine, sure. I'll go," Yoongi eventually said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not? Is... Is Do Hyeon-hyung coming?"

He looked at the glass partition, where the man in question was putting away his things.

"No," she replied.

Leaning back against his chair, he tilted his head so he could meet her gaze. As expected, she was already looking right back. She always was. Strange woman.

"How about Kim Namjoon or... or Park Jimin?"

"No."

"Just the two of us?"

"Yes."

She raised her chin in challenge. Yoongi smiled, feeling somewhat giddy.

Calm down. It's just dinner.

When she smiled in return, his lips stretched into a full-blown grin. When did dinner become so exciting? No matter, there was no need to look too deeply into it. Getting up, he shoved his notebook and thermos into his bag and slung it over his shoulders. Then, he made his way towards the door, glanced over his shoulder, and said, "What are you waiting for? Let's go."

--

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this episode. Please stay safe always! <3