Behind the Mask

~Chapter 33~

"We're all here now, so tell us, Sensei. What is this about?" Seokjin asked, confusion fueling his worry. Ten additional pairs of eyes then focused on the middle-aged man in front of them, silently asking the same question.

They had all been abruptly awoken in the middle of the night, courtesy of a very urgent announcement Sensei was keen on making. Of course, as always when it came to such affairs, he kept the young ones in the dark until they all gathered in the living room, clad in their pyjamas, rubbing their eyes to chase away the sleep, but ready to listen to the news.

The man smiled sympathetically seeing their worn out expressions and decided to take pity on them, explaining the reason behind their unexpected interruption of sleep.

"Well, kids.."

"Stop!" Rosie's voice immediately cut in. "Stop, don't say anything more. Everybody, to the kitchen now!"

The members looked at one another slightly creeped out by her aggressivity, but followed nevertheless, trusting the importance of her butt-in. They entered the kitchen straight away, only to be welcomed by the amazing fragrance of freshly brewed coffee tingling their nostrils. 

"How did you expect to function without this, huh?" Rosie questioned, handing everybody a plastic cup filled with the hot liquid.

"Uh you know what, I think I'll just wait for you in the living room. Somebody has to keep Sensei company and everything.." Taehyung excused himself after taking a single sip of his coffee. He always managed to forget how much he disliked the taste.

"Oh, sure, we'll meet you in a few, go", Jennie answered, ushering him out of the room, smiling to herself as she remembered the boy's profound hatred towards caffeine. At her gestures, Yoongi's delighted smile upon smelling the beverage was soon to fall, and his shoulders slumped down as he turned away from the scene, unwilling to further witness his two loved ones together.

Meanwhile Taehyung skipped happily to the living room, unaware of the troubled boy he left behind.

"Guess who's back, Sensei! Those inconsiderate coffee addicts left you here all alone, but worry not, your favourite boy is here! Listen, why don't you tell me what this announcement is about real quick, until the others get back?"

"Oh, sorry Taehyung, no can do. We'll wait for the others, then talk. And I told you I don't have favourites among you."

"But you said I was special!" The boy argued, desperate to get a preview of what was to come, then brag to the others that he had known about it for weeks.

"You are special, kid, I stand true to that, but that doesn't give you dibs on the news."

"Not even if I treat you food?" He tried, shooting one last hopeless attempt.

"Not even. Though I might take that offer later!" The man smiled, reassuring the young boy that he still cared for him a lot. "Come here, give this old man a hug!"

Taehyung snorted, hugging the man tight and petting his shoulder jokingly, "you're not old, Sensei. You can still get all the ladies." He gave him a thumbs-up and a signature derp face, to end the conversation in a light tone. Just then, the others walked inside and sat on the couch around the two, ready to listen to whatever news Sensei had to share.

"Well, kids. As I was saying, the urgent announcement, a very important one indeed, is that I have a great surprise for you! A new episode of the vlog has been scheduled for this morning! Don't worry, I'm not forcing you to dance at five in the morning, I know you would start planning my murder if I did, so this is different! You are all going to go on a hike!"