__________________________

Don't forget to comment and vote if you enjoy!
__________________________

🐰

It's getting dark, the sun is setting and the day is slowly coming to an end.

But my day is not over just yet.

Jungkook texted me earlier. He wanted to bring me somewhere.

I didn't know where, but I could really use a distraction from the disappointment of my conversation with Yoongi.

It's only been a few hours since I left the alley in which Yoongi's 'secret' music studio is, but I haven't stopped thinking about our encounter once.

He seemed so certain in his words and confident in his decision.

I've thinking of a plan to convince him, but nothing came up and nothing has been able to push away the discouraging voices that keeps crashing my mind.

I'm worried. He didn't seem to budge even the slightest, even when I mentioned how Jungkook wasn't doing well.

I've tried forgetting about the whole incident and get some rest, just for a while. Maybe that would bring me new ideas and a new and bettered courage. But nothing could keep me from thinking of my failed mission.

It just sucks and I'm really bothered that Yoongi didn't cave in.

"Y/n?" A deep voice sounds and I look up into Jungkook's eyes.

"Hm?" I hum as a question.

"Is everything okay?" He asks.

I detach my eyes from his and look around us before lowering my eyes to the ground, there isn't really much to look at around us besides bodies anyway.

"Do you not like it here? Should we go?" Jungkook asks and I look up at him again.

I see how his brows are scrunched slightly and his lips parted as he awaits my answer. He almost looks worried.

My heart softens, studying his expression. I take a deep breath and pull myself together before putting a smile on my face, "No. I really want to experience this." I reply.

I look around us again, again not seeing much other than bodies and a stage way ahead of us. But what else can I expect when we're standing in the middle of a fan crowd waiting for a concert to start.

"Are you sure?" Jungkook asks and puts a hand on my shoulder. It's warm and it almost feels illegal for it to touch me.

I look at the hand shortly, before looking up at him, "I am. It's gonna be fun, right?" I reassure him.

"Right, I hope you like their music." Jungkook laughs a little.

He didn't believe me when I said that I've never heard of NewJeans before. Apparently they are the world's most popular girl Kpop group right now. But then again, I know nothing about that.

I acknowledge that it seems a bit weird that I don't know them, given that I'm Korean and that I am supposed to be from here, but I'm not. I'm not from this time. I don't know much about Kpop. And clearly I don't know any groups.

But I couldn't just lie when Jungkook told me he got tickets for one of their concerts. In spite of how weird it would be, I couldn't lie about that—even though I'm a professional at exactly that. I mean it would be impossible to pretend as if I knew NewJeans when I not only don't know their names and lyrics, but also can't even hum along to the melodies. Besides I think the fact that I'm clueless about the group is consistent with my ignorance about BTS.

Actually... I said no when Jungkook told me he got tickets for a concert.

I didn't want to reject him... but one reason was that I was feeling really down about what happened with my Agust D mission.

Another reason was that I'm working. This is a mission for my work, for my boss and for my generation. I shouldn't be going to a concert. And thirdly because I shouldn't go to a concert with my client for no reason other than personal pleasure.

Oh, and did I mention how concerts here are so unhygienic? People just rub against each other like the world didn't just go through 5 years of a life threatening flu—I've had a long lesson on Covid-19.

Concerts where I come from are way more hygienic—and less claustrophobic.

But I surrendered after several attempts by Jungkook, who insisted that I should go. He reasoned that he wanted to show me a part if his world. And evidently, he bought the tickets with the intention of taking me with him.

"I hope so too." I smile after a while, but scrunch my nose as a woman pushes through Jungkook and I, rubbing her ass agains my stomach. I mentally vomit and I think I gag too as Jungkook starts to laugh at me.

"You're so sensitive." Jungkook chuckles.

"Oh really? Try getting an ass that you don't know where was last rubbed against you." I lay my arms in a cross over my chest and huff.

I know I'm sensitive, but I can't help but to defend myself after his mocking attitude.

"I'd like that." Jungkook says and I look up at him to see a smirk on his lips.

I slap him harshly, not holding back, before I cover my own mouth with my hands, disturbed by his words.

"I'm joking, relax." He laughs at my reaction before rubbing the left side of his chest which I assaulted, "And that was a mean slap."

"Deserved." I say and internally clap myself on the shoulder. After that, I slightly wince at my palm that is stinging from the slap. I really did use a lot of strength.

The crowd starts screaming which makes both Jungkook and I direct our attention up towards the stage.

Five girls, a little younger than me I would say, steps out on the stage and the music starts.

🐰

The concert ends quickly or maybe time just passed by fast.

The songs have been good and although I didn't realize it, I felt myself humming along to the songs and cheering when other people did. I'll say I almost screamed more than Jungkook did.

I had fun during the show—at least the parts I could see due to my height—, but mostly I was happy to see Jungkook smile so brightly. He seemed so happy, like this environment is where he thrives. He seemed so comfortable, almost as if this was where he wanted to be, as if this was his home.

But all that changes as the group of girls on the stage start their ending ments.

I subconsciously look up at Jungkook as I have done so many times during this concert. But this time, I notice that his smile is gone. His features are much more relaxed, but almost tensing.. in the wrong way. His jaw is clenched and he doesn't blink much as he keeps his eyes on the girls on the stage.

I look up at NewJeans, watching them as they stand on a straight line, holding hands and bow towards their crowd of fans, before I look back at Jungkook.

It probably reminds him of his friends.

Jungkook's Adam's apple bops as he swallows whatever thought that is going through him right now.

I can't help but feel my excitement and happiness die out as I watch his saddened position.

He probably misses it all a lot. Standing on stage, singing for a crowd, his fans, his band members, the memories... Taehyung...

I get startled as Jungkook turns to look at me, catching my stare but I can't move it away from him. I want to hug him, help him and make him feel better. I don't want him to feel so sad.

"What?" Jungkook lets out along with a low chuckle.

The smile that's on his face now is different from the one before.

It's fake, forced, artificial... call it whatever you like.

All I know, is that it's not Jungkook's.

It amazes me how easy it seems to be for him to act like he's okay, but it also concerns me.

"Nothing, I just..." I halt mid sentence, unsure of continuing. I don't know why, but I want to ask him what's wrong, even though I already know it.

I want him to tell me.

The crowd around us starts moving suddenly which surprises me. An uneasy feeling travels through my body when the space around Jungkook and I narrows. The lack of space forces me to turn around and move with the crowd. The concert is now over and we need to get out.

I feel the uneasiness inside me grow into a small panic as there are lots of people, pushing and shoving in their own selfish manner to get past and out first. There's a lot of bodies touching mine and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Why are people so selfish and aggressive?

I look over my shoulder, but I can't see Jungkook which worries me. I'm not necessarily afraid or anything, it's just that I don't know where to go.

I decide to stand still, waiting for him because he must be somewhere behind me. But instead of standing still, another person pushes past me and I fall into some girl next to me. I apologize but I don't think she hears me as she continues and my voice is small as I shrink in my place.

"Y/n, walk." A familiar voice whispers into my ear.

I recognize Jungkook's voice immediately.

I gulp down, feeling a bit of relief but still very anxious about this whole situation. I start walking, but people still push past me and it feels like I'm being pushed around like an elephant in an arena.

A pair of hands grabs my waist and I hear Jungkook's voice calling my name again before I'm pulled against his chest and feel his arms wrap around me. He places his chin on my shoulder and starts whispering soothing nothings into my ear. He does that for several seconds. I'm not sure if it helps, as my heart doesn't seem to be beating slower, but on the contrary is starting to beat faster.

Jungkook's chin leaves my shoulder as he lifts his head again. His hold on my waist stays and we push through the crowd like that.

After a few minutes we finally get out to where there's fresh air to breathe. There's still a lot of people around us, but space enough for Jungkook to let go of me.

And he slowly does so when we get to a more open space. It's only then I realize what feelings when through me with his arms wrapped around my waist, hugging me from behind and when he whispered into my ear.

I feel my cheeks grow hot as my heart beats faster yet again. I'm still not entirely sure what caused it more. The uncomfortable situation or... him.

We walk in silence for a while until we're away from the group of people and it's only the two of us. A few people pass by every now and then, but here it is more peaceful than at the stadium.

I don't know what to say to him. I'm still thinking about the way he held me.

However I don't have to think of what to say when Jungkook clears his throat and makes me look up at him.

"Sorry if you thought that was weird. I just, didn't want to lose you in the crowd." He lets out a low chuckle. His left hand goes to rub the back of his neck.

"Lose me? I'm not a child." I scoff jokingly.

"You're quite small." Jungkook remarks which makes me scoff for real this time. Jungkook laughs at that. "Were you even able to watch the concert?" He questions. I'm not sure if it's a genuine question or if he's teasing me.

"I was just about to tell you that you helping me was not weird and thank you. But now, I think I'd rather not." I hiss.

"Well you just told me." Jungkook speaks and I sense the stupid smirk on his face out of the corner of my eye. I don't reply, slightly annoyed but also kind of nervous, as odd as it is.

Why do I feel nervous still? I'm not in the crowd anymore, so why is my heart still racing?

"You're welcome." Jungkook declares.

I look up at him and cock my head slightly, "I didn't thank you."

"You don't need to." Jungkook looks back down into my eyes for a while and I feel my breath hitch, "You're quite stubborn, aren't you?"

"Why? Do you think it's attractive?" I grin, but look away just after and avoid his gaze. I mentally slap myself hundreds of times and I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, hoping it will bleed as a punishment for what I just did.

I did not just say that, did I?

Did I just ask my client that.. as if this is a date and as if I really wanted to say that.

"What, you made yourself flustered by flirting with me?" Jungkook remarks and he bends down, searching my eyes, but I look away.

Fuck this is so embarrassing

It's embarrassing and it's wrong.

But I just couldn't control myself in that moment. I had no control over what left my own mouth. I didn't even notice until Jungkook started smirking.

Why does my body do this, why does it react this way?

Jungkook lets out a low chuckle as I don't reply and keep avoiding his gaze, "Yeah, it's really attractive actually."

🐰