Nobody moved for a while.
The air just sat heavy between us, full of things no one knew how to say.
Then Rosa pushed back her chair.
"Alright," she said.
"That's enough silence. You eat before it turns into a funeral."
Frankie appeared from the kitchen, already wiping his hands on a towel.
"Speaking of funerals..." he started, eyes scanning the table.
"Which one of you is Jungkook?"
I dropped my face into my hands.
Every head turned at the same time.
Right at Jungkook.
He froze, hand halfway to his glass. His shoulders tensed, eyes darting to me like help me.
The table exploded.
Jin actually clapped. Jimin nearly slid out of his chair laughing. Hobi had to cover his face with his napkin. Even Yoongi cracked a quiet, evil smile.
Frankie pointed the towel at Jungkook.
"You?"
Jungkook blinked, mortified.
"...Yes, sir."
"Stand up," Frankie said.
"Frankie, don't—" I started, but Jungkook was already on his feet.
"I'm not scaring him," Frankie said, grinning like he absolutely was.
"I just want to talk."
He crossed his arms, shifting his weight like a cop in an old movie.
"So, Jungkook."
"Yes, sir," Jungkook said automatically.
Frankie nodded like that was already the wrong answer.
"You like my girl?"
"Yes, sir."
"You love her?"
Jungkook hesitated—just long enough for Jimin to start quietly wheezing into his napkin.
"Yes, sir."
Frankie tilted his head, studying him.
"You sure about that?"
Jungkook swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
Frankie nodded.
"Good. Keep it that way. I'm too old to dig holes."
"Madonna, Frankie!" Rosa threw her napkin at him, but she was laughing.
"You're scaring the poor boy!"
The table broke. Jin clapped again, half-choking on his drink. Taehyung was red-faced. Hobi was crying. Even Namjoon lost composure for a second.
Frankie straightened, pretending to dust off his hands.
"That's it. Talk over. He passed."
"Passed what?" I asked, glaring.
"The test," Frankie said simply.
"Polite, respectful, terrified. That's all I needed."
Rosa smacked his arm with the towel.
"You're impossible."
"I'm efficient," he said.
Jimin was still laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
"Kookie, your face—"
YOU ARE READING
Heartbeat // JK
FanfictionShe wasn't looking for fame. He never expected love. But when fire meets fire, neither one walks away untouched. When Eva Simon lands in New York chasing a dream she's barely brave enough to name, the last thing she expects is him - global superstar...
