You saw it in my eyes forever ✓

chapter 7

To say that the bus ride to the work retreat is awkward is a gross understatement. The last week has been awkward, in fact. Jungkook  hasn’t been able to look at Taehyung , let alone talk to him more than his job requires.

Jungkook  supposes that he had already planned on avoiding Taehyung  like this, given his recent revelation that he was jealous of Taehyung ’s admirers. But this is different. Jungkook  doesn’t know how to deal with what happened at his apartment. He tells no one about the kiss, obviously, and goes through his weekly tasks as best he can. Yet, flashes of the memory plague him. Jungkook  can’t stop thinking about the feeling of Taehyung ’s hands on his neck, his lips on his, and – most vividly of all – the haunting, pained expression of Taehyung ’s eyes.

He still wonders if Taehyung  regrets what happened, but judging by the surprise Taehyung  expresses every time Jungkook  ignores him, Jungkook  figures that Taehyung  doesn’t remember that he kissed him.

Jungkook  doesn’t know if that makes things better or worse.

Jungkook  tries to get out of the retreat, because the thought of being in a forest reserve, unable to escape Taehyung ’s inevitable questions, is an absolute nightmare. However, given Jungkook ’s effect on Taehyung ’s recent good behavior, Air flatly refuses his request. “All the managers have to come,” she says. “Remember, this isn’t really a vacation.”

And that’s the other thing – they’ll be filming a reality show while they’re there. Something about surviving the ‘haunted’ forest. Jungkook  groans. He’s currently sitting next to Air, who has so much work to do on the bus that he might as well be sitting by himself. She turns around every few minutes to give reminders to the band as to what their schedule will be when they get there, and every few minutes she gets a dispassionate chorus of “Yeahs” in response.

“The camera crew is already setting up to be ready in time for nightfall,” Air continues. “The forecast says it’ll be a clear night, so let’s wrap up shooting before it gets too late. Okay, everyone?”

“Yeah,” replies the band.

“Taehyung , I need verbal confirmation,” Air adds sternly.

Jungkook  turns around and immediately makes eye contact with Taehyung , who is sitting in the back of the bus with Earn, and apparently boring a hole into the back of his head. His “Yeah,” in response is somehow more apathetic than the others.

“If everyone makes it back in time, Namjoon  and I have prepared a special midnight feast,” Air says. The band immediately perks up, and Air says over them, “Let’s work hard today!”

Taehyung  is the only one not celebrating.

   ________

Jungkook  really is too emotionally drained to handle the three-ring circus that is SuperBright staff, the film crew of the television program, and WINGS  themselves together in a secluded forest reserve. In truth, he barely understands what the program is, apart from vague outlines. The band will partake in some sort of nighttime scavenger hunt while avoiding crew dressed as ghosts trying to scare them in the woods. That will be followed by some interviews, and then hopefully – if Jungkook  gets his way – everyone will eat barbecue and go to sleep without Jungkook  having to interact with Taehyung  at all.

His plan works for the first few hours. He manages to avoid Taehyung  during the scavenger hunt. Now, Jungkook  has a row of cameras between him and Taehyung  during the personal interviews.

“Taehyung , you are the main songwriter for the band, correct?” the host of the reality show asks cheerfully. Taehyung  nods. “I heard a rumor that you’re already working on songs for your next album. Is that true?”