FACING THE SAME FACE | JINKOOK

CH19

The warm light from the lamp in the corner of the room softened the atmosphere, and the sound of karaoke music mixed with laughter and jokes. The fried chicken was almost finished, and beer cans were piling up on the table. JungKook and Jin were sitting on the sofa, each holding a microphone, trying to keep the tune of the song while laughing at their off-key notes.

"Come on, JungKook, you need to let go more! It's karaoke, not an audition for a singing contest!" Jin joked, making exaggerated gestures with his hands as though conducting an orchestra.

JungKook frowned and raised his free hand, pretending to smack Jin.

"Don't make me laugh! I'm trying to concentrate. It's harder than it looks." Though he appeared serious, the smile that slipped out betrayed him.

Jin burst out laughing.

"Don't act all serious! You should know that the worst part is that you think you're a singing expert, but you're no better than me." JungKook snorted, looking at the microphone as if it were a suspicious object.

"I think the key here is the beer. If I keep drinking, my voice is bound to improve."

"Ah, of course, the alcohol trick... Let's see if anything decent comes out of it then," Jin replied with a mocking smile.

They both started singing another song, each following their own rhythm. The catchy and upbeat melody made JungKook forget everything else for a moment. At first, they were clumsy, laughing at their off-pitch notes, but as the song progressed, they both seemed to relax, letting themselves be carried away by the moment.

"Okay, okay, now it's my turn," Jin said, raising the microphone and announcing his turn with a dramatic pose. "This song's dedicated to you, JungKook!" JungKook raised an eyebrow and looked at him suspiciously.

"To me? Are you sure? I'm not so sure that song suits you, Jin." Jin acted as if he were insulted.

"You're going to be speechless, just wait!" He began to sing, and although he wasn't a professional singer, his voice was full of enthusiasm and energy, which made JungKook enjoy the fun. He watched Jin for a few seconds, noticing how he threw himself into the song. Jin's tone was a bit clumsy, but the confidence with which he sang made JungKook smile genuinely. It wasn't just the karaoke that made him smile; it was the shared moment, something they rarely allowed between all the tension they carried with each other.

When Jin finished, he dropped the microphone on the sofa and leaned back.

"See? I told you I'd impress you," he said, still breathing quickly, and looked at JungKook with a triumphant smile.

"Impress? The only thing you did was ruin the song," JungKook teased while taking another sip of beer.

"That's pure jealousy!" Jin replied, throwing a cushion at JungKook's face. "You were lacking a bit of emotion too." JungKook raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright. You're right. I'm a total failure at karaoke. But at least I'm not laughing like a lunatic."

"You didn't call me 'genius' for nothing!" Jin smiled sideways, leaning back on the sofa with a relaxed attitude that made JungKook feel more comfortable than he'd expected.

Suddenly, the music changed, and the next song began, slower in rhythm. The gentle melody filled the air in the room. Jin looked at the microphone for a moment and then glanced at JungKook, who still had the beer in his hand.

"Are you up for it?" Jin asked, a slight smile on his lips. "It's your chance to shine." JungKook looked at him for a second, thoughtful, and then nodded.