BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 149: with you, i'm always ready

<OST: Start - Gaho>

"Hello...?"

"Jungkook-ah, it's me-" Jieun fiddled with her fingernails as she sat down on the couch in her living room, speaking to Jungkook on the phone. "You busy...?"

"No, I just finished recording for today and was about to rest..." Jungkook explained. "Why?"

"Ah, you must be tired then-" Jieun inhaled sharply. "It's alright, it's not important. I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright? Rest well, Jungkook-ah."

"Huh? No, it's fine-" Jungkook let out a small chuckle. "I was just about to call you after I was done packing up, anyway. I wanted to hear your voice... and also ask you how your day was."

"Ah, alright then-" Jieun continued uneasily, not sure if this was the appropriate time to broach the subject, considering the fact that Jungkook's concert was barely a month away. "My day was fine, what about you? Did recording go well today...?"

"Yes, it went really well..." Jungkook's voice trailed off. "But you don't sound fine at all, though."

Damn it, dating her for a few months had given him a way of figuring out her moods just on her voice alone. It was a good thing, mostly - since he always knew when to apologise or clarify things with her. But it was also annoying sometimes, especially during the times when she wanted to hide her emotions from him so as to not pressurise him during stressful times in his life.

"I'm really fine!" Jieun forced a little laugh, to assure Jungkook. "Why, do I not sound fine? Maybe I'm just tired... I was busy trying out some new makeup products at Etude House's prelaunch today."

Silence.

"Well, that's definitely not your tired voice-" Jungkook pointed out sharply. "Hey, you know you can tell me anything, right? What's up...?"

Jieun sighed loudly. He had really changed to become such an observant and sweet guy.

"Hm-"

"Go on, I'm listening."

"I, well-" Jieun struggled to find a nice way to put it, but eventually decided that the best way was just to be honest. "I'm not gonna lie to you, these few months have been really difficult for me, trying to keep up our relationship mostly via calls and only being able to go visit you once in a while in secret... I'm really, really tired."

A long, long pause.

"Wait-" Jungkook's voice broke. "Lee Jieun, are you breaking up with me...?"

Jieun couldn't speak for a while, unable to understand how that thought could even cross Jungkook's mind. She burst into laughter because of how absurd the question seemed.

"Wait, what?"

"Oh my goodness, thank God-" Jieun could literally imagine Jungkook holding his chest and heaving a sigh of relief on the couch in his recording room. "Thank God you're laughing, I thought you sounded so serious because you were about to break up with me for not spending enough time with you."

"JK, what on earth?" Jieun burst into laughter. "How does saying that things have been tough for me equate to me wanting to break up with you...? No, never! I'm not breaking up with you... ever - not after all that we've been through together. Why would you even think of that?"

"Well, I guess it just stems from my own worries and insecurities-" Jungkook admitted with a loud sigh. "I know that me having this concert was going to put pressure on you as well, and I guess I just thought the worst when you called. But... I'm glad I'm wrong."