Chapter Text
It wasn’t necessary. If Jungkook would think about it, his past actions do not necessitate another fucking PR stunt. He was doing good. For fuck’s sake, his last comeback broke a lot of records and was number one in the charts for weeks. Jungkook was one of the money-maker of this goddamn company so he could not comprehend why the fuck he needed to be in this stupid pretend relationship.
But here he was, pacing around the artist’s room while his manager kept an eye on him. He felt like a child being watched for a tantrum to come.
“Jungkook-ssi, can you sit, please?” There was quiet exhaustion in Manager Lee’s voice. Jungkook couldn’t blame him, he probably hasn’t slept a wink in the past 24 hours. “We’ve discussed this a million times.”
“Why do I need another stunt? It’s been years since I did this dating thing. I don’t need it.” He was tired, so tired of it. And obviously, his manager as well. Jungkook had repeated his complaint a million times already.
“You brought this to yourself when you got into a fight, Jungkook-ssi.” Dismissal laced Manager Lee’s tone. He had repeatedly reminded him of this as well.
And maybe, just maybe, Jungkook would understand his point. He got into a bar fight, almost getting himself arrested if not for Kim Seokjin being there and bailing him out. It was all supposed to be hushed down but who was he kidding? He was Jeon Jungkook, a problematic idol that everybody seemed to both hate and love. Of course, videos and gossip would leak—and most of the time, they were biased. No one would question if a troubled idol got himself into a scandal.
Jungkook sighed and ran his hands through his hair harshly. He could almost hear it, the sound of the band outside. It should be muted in the soundproofed room but he was so familiar with it, the instruments booming, the screaming of the crowd, the high of a performance. In most moments, he loved it; Jungkook thrived in performing and with his music. If there was one thing he knew would never leave him, it was music and performance.
It was his life.
“I don’t understand why it should be him.” There was so much bitterness in Jungkook’s tongue and it was so obvious with the way he almost spit out the word. He couldn’t even call him by his name, not wanting to dive deep into any sort of memories that surrounded the man that he was now waiting for. “It could literally be anyone. I’ve never even interacted with him.”
The breath that Manager Lee let out was a deep one, having to close his eyes for a moment before meeting his gaze one more time. It almost took Jungkook by surprise, the gentleness in his manager’s gaze, probably the product of being together as soon as Jungkook debuted.
“He’s the one that makes sense, Jungkook-ah.” There was affection in there, the kind that Manager Lee rarely shows when Jungkook was acting out. They’ve always been so professional together, the wall built on Jungkook’s second PR stunt when he expressed doubt but Jungkook was willing to risk it all. Years caused the wall to lower but it was always there. “Kim Seokjin-ssi is engaged, and you know Kim Namjoon-ssi just confirmed his relationship with Park Jimin-ssi.”
“What about Taehyung sunbaenim? We interacted before.” He asked though he was sure of the answer already.
“He declined for personal reasons.”
Of course, Taehyung would say no. Although Jungkook did hope that he would help him out, Jungkook’s relationship with him was civil at best. Something that was dedicated to the media and fans. No one would suspect the fight they had years ago…
“That leaves us with Min Yoongi-ssi. Everybody loves him, it’ll be fine, Jungkook-ah.” Manager Lee added.
Jungkook could only hope that it will be fine but his doubt was a strong anchor that was pulling him down, trying to drown him slowly in the facade of stabilizing him from all the waves crashing on him. He was usually fine with it, already accustomed to the whirlwind and storm of his life, acting out once in a while in an attempt to rebel against the cycle that he was stuck in but always being pulled back by his music. It was all he could do if he wanted to continue what he was doing.
Jungkook took a deep breath, a poor attempt of calming down the raging heart inside his chest. He wasn’t sure what the fuck was going to happen now.
“Fine. What do I do?” the words were tired and exasperated, sharp around the edges.
Manager Lee stared at him with a slight frown on his forehead, probably waiting for more resistance and hostility. And usually, Jungkook would. For someone who was so used to doing PR stunts, they still never fail to exhaust him. It was as if all of the things he did for publicity took a part of him that he could never get back. But wasn’t it really the case? When he first agreed to this? He lost someone that had his whole heart.
“Someone will hand you a bouquet of flowers,” Manager Lee stood up from where he sat, eyes falling on the watch on his wrist. “You’ll have to give that to Yoongi-ssi after the concert.”
“He knows everything about this, right?”
“Yes, Jungkook-ah. Only he and his manager know about this,” Manager Lee offered him a smile that was probably meant to comfort him if he would go by the way he had been trying to soothe Jungkook since earlier. He just wished it worked. “You can trust him. He’ll take care of you.”
The words were sharp pieces of a broken heart that Jungkook caused. Years had passed but until now, he wasn’t sure if those fragments were his heart or Yoongi’s or both. All he knew was despite everything, the pieces of his own heart remained broken around him, never even attempting to pick them up to put them together.
“Alright.” There was a lump in his throat that had him breathing hard. It was uncomfortable and he had half of his mind fleeing the place. But he was stuck, wasn’t he? They will always find a way to make him agree to whatever stunts they think would benefit him.
“Great, let’s get you out there waiting.”
Jungkook froze. “Now?”
“Yes.” Manager Lee replied slowly, trying to gauge his expression. The thing was, Jungkook had perfected his mask. “The concert is almost done and it would be better if more people would see you hanging around.”
That made sense, of course, it did. This industry was all for show and pretend. There was a payment for doing what you loved and most of the time, it was your heart or soul. For Jungkook, it was both.
Giving his manager a nod instead of replying, Jungkook took a deep breath and followed Manager Lee out of the room. As soon as he stepped out, the scream of the crowd and the freestyling of the band filled his ears, a comforting sound that he definitely missed. It had been a while since he was on tour and knowing his management, they were definitely holding it up for something like this.
Jungkook took a deep breath, eyes finding Manager Lee’s then falling to the flowers that he was carrying. It was a small bouquet of pink flowers, something elegant enough to give but simple enough that wouldn’t steal attention. Jungkook wasn’t sure if he wanted attention right now.
“The show just finished, he’ll be here soon.” Manager Lee handed him the flowers. It felt foreign and heavy on his hand though he could only count three pink roses.
The waiting game had always been the hardest. He could almost hear his heart jumping in his chest and trying to escape from his throat and if it was just quiet, he was sure that Manager Lee would hear his heartbeat. Maybe because Jungkook wasn’t the most patient person, always wanting to be moving and hating to be stuck. But as he stood there with staff and crew passing by around him, all he could do was watch them. He felt strange like he wasn’t entirely in this place. His mind drifted off dangerously to the thoughts that he had been trying to avoid, poorly trying to keep them somewhere safe. He doesn’t know how he was supposed to act in front of… him . Out of everything that Jungkook did for his career, this was something he tried not to imagine. He even did everything not to be in any close vicinity around him.
But now, he was here.
“Ah, everyone! Thank you so much for your hard work!” The familiar voice that echoed through the place immediately pulled Jungkook away from the safe place that he created in his mind, quickly drowning him with thoughts and memories that he hated to think about but could never escape from. They were always there, a part of him. Just like Min Yoongi.
Min Yoongi with his sweet face and saccharine smile. He was a masterpiece that the universe took its sweet time to create, painting him in all colors and hues, and placing the whole cosmos inside him. One look at him and someone would immediately fall in love. Was it because of the gentleness that colored his whole being and soul? Or was it because Jungkook used to be in love with him?
In a brief second, their eyes met. Jungkook just wanted to drown in the waves that had him anchored, pulling him down and never going back up. Why did he accept this? What was the point? Fuck the scandal that he just went through. That was easier to deal with than this .
Everything was easier without Min Yoongi.
“Hello, Jungkook-ah,” Intimacy laced the way Jungkook’s name fell from Yoongi’s lips, wrapping him tenderly with a warmth that only Yoongi could provide. Jungkook should know—he had drowned himself under that warmth for a long time, the only comfort he craved even after everything went crumbling.
He had almost forgotten how it felt.
Clearing his throat and looking away, Jungkook gingerly handed the flowers that he was holding. He was hoping that they wouldn’t need to touch but all he could do was stand his ground and try not to flinch at the spark that came from the briefest contact of their skin, the electricity running rapidly under his skin with a hum, making its way to his chest and finally, to his heart.
“Thank you for the flowers. They’re gorgeous.” Yoongi tried again, and Jungkook couldn’t help but notice that rasp on it, something that always happened whenever Yoongi performed for a long period of time. He was so familiar with it, almost giving in to his instinct of offering Yoongi something warm to drink. Because there was a time when Jungkook would take care of him.
There was a time that Jungkook wouldn’t feel like walking around the shards of his heart, each step was a pain that traveled all over his body until it pierces his chest.
A time before everything fell apart.
Jungkook wanted to run. He didn’t, though. Instead, he plastered the practiced smile on his face and looked at Yoongi; looked at the person that he loved from a long time ago, only to break his heart and never talk to him anymore.
“You’re more gorgeous, hyung.” It was the truth. Yoongi was the most gorgeous person he had ever seen, so beautiful, kind, and lovely. There was always gentleness in his gaze, a warmth in his smile. Min Yoongi was a kaleidoscope of colors that was incomparable to anything that he could think of. Min Yoongi was one of a kind.
Despite that, saying those words felt forced and wrong. Because Jungkook shouldn’t even be saying those, he had lost all his rights to be of anything that revolved around Yoongi years ago.
Why the fuck he agreed to this mess?
“Ah,” Yoongi sighed softly, eyes momentarily falling to the floor and if Jungkook looked closer, he would think there were tears that attempted to escape from his eyes. But it wasn’t and instead, there was nothing but sweat that twinkled against the light. “Thank you, Jungkook-ah. How have you been?”
It ached. If Jungkook closed his eyes, he could almost imagine each shard of his broken heart being slowly pierced into his chest, hoping to stab the remaining parts that always wished to go back to where it all began. He wanted to spit it, the blood and fragments that were left inside him, hoping that it would ease everything about Yoongi’s question and this setup a bit. But there was nothing Jungkook could do but let everything cut through him until he breaks. That was what he deserved, anyway.
The smile that he plastered on his face was prickly and uncomfortable but he didn’t remove it. “I’m good, hyung.”
Yoongi stared for him a little longer, eyes searching and looking through him as if he could still see everything that made Jungkook. But it couldn’t be, no. Not when everything had changed and Jungkook turned all his sweet, twinkling starry hopes into sharp, strong diamonds. He built a barrier so high and thick that he already felt stuck inside it.
If Yoongi was looking for the Jungkook that loved him years ago then he was up for failure. Because the moment Jungkook lost Yoongi was the moment Jungkook gave himself up too.
Hello. This is BigHit Entertainment.
We deliver a statement regarding our artists Agust D and Jeon Jungkook.
Agust D and Jeon Jungkook have been getting to know each other carefully with good feelings and recently progressed from being close acquaintances into being a couple. It is confirmed that they are maintaining a serious relationship.
Please show a lot of support so they can continue their beautiful relationship.
Thank you.
BREAKING: Rapper Agust D and singer Jeon Jungkook confirmed to be dating
BigHit Entertainment has released their official statement regarding their artists’ relationship.