We Broke Up | Jungkook

19

NINETEEN

A new day has come in a blink of an eye. I couldn't even sleep properly last night because I'm too worried for my singing evaluation that's going to be held in 30 minutes.

A lot of staffs are rushing in and out the room, taking some files and documents that include voting and rating of my singing skills for today. I couldn't get any more nervous.

I kept playing with my fingers shakily when I felt a hand grabbing mine so suddenly that I got taken aback by surprise.

"J-Jungkook?" I looked up to see him in his white tee and ripped skinny jeans. He sat down beside me, grabbing my hands tighter.

"Baby, you're nervous?" He leaned in, whispering to my ear. I blushed at his actions, but my shivering didn't stop.

"Yes, I am," I exhaled a deep breath, looking at him weakly. "And please, don't stay so close. It would be bad if the people see—" Whenever I brought this topic up, I was cut off again and again.

"Shh, they won't. They're busy preparing right now and plus we're sitting at the last row of audiences' chairs." He explained and I just nodded a few times as a response.

"Jungkook, what if I fail again? What if the result disappoints you again?" I asked, facing him slowly.

"Since when did you ever disappoint me?" He asked, looking at me but I looked away. "Hmm?" He leaned in closer, using his thumbs to caress the back of my palms slowly.

"I mean— I just, I'm so scared that I'll fail this time again," I told him and he smiled.

"You won't, I know you won't fail," He calmed me down somehow and my shivering began to disappear. "I have faith in you, even if you don't have faith in yourself." He said silently, tugging strands of my hair behind my ear.

Before I could say anything to him, I saw Hyemin and Hongseok walking through the front door, so I distanced myself from Jungkook in an instant and walked toward them.

"Hey," I greeted them and they did the same. "Hongseok, you're free today too?" I asked him, since he has been so busy with the preparations for debuting.

"Oh yeah, I'm free today so I decided to come and watch two of my friends singing," He pinched my cheek and Hyemin's cheek. "Do your best, both of you."

"Roger that, teacher Ahn," Hyemin sounded like a soldier and we three laughed until we saw PD-nim walking toward us in a distance.

Everyone started to go to their seats and us too. Hongseok sat beside Jungkook at the audiences' chairs. Hyemin and I sat beside each other on the chairs that located at the centre of the room.

PD-nim came in and smiled, walking to sit on the judge's seat. "Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes," Hyemin and I said equally.

"Lee Hyemin, let's see what you've practiced," He called out and Hyemin stood up, taking the mic. Ailee's I will show you is being played in the room and Hyemin's expression changed immediately.

She started off perfectly as usual, and her tone was stable. I really admire her so much, she's changed a lot. I got even more nervous by just looking at her performance.

As soon as she finished singing, everyone gave her a round of applauses and she bowed, walking to sit at her chair.

I stood up, taking a deep breath and walked to the centre. "Are you ready?" PD-nim asked and I nodded as a response.

For a few minutes, Ailee's Heaven is being played throughout the room and everyone mouthed "oh god,"

I chose to ignore all of their stares, and words by starting off the song properly. I'm glad I didn't make a mistake this time. I continued singing until the verse 3, the one I got frustrated with last night.

I took a quick glance at Jungkook; he wasn't sitting anymore. He was standing and smiling at me as if waiting for me to slay everyone with that verse.

I sang the verse 3 smoothly and some staffs stood up, open-mouthed. I just continued singing until the song ended.

Almost everyone stood up, giving applauses and I bowed, walking to sit at my own seat. The judging and voting began, so I held Hyemin's hand tightly. She just sat still, looking at the wall.

"The voting is finished," A girl announced, so Hyemin and I stood up, walking to stand at the centre.

"You both did an amazing job," PD-nim spoke but that didn't seem to calm me down just yet. "However, Hyemin made a small mistake at the chorus so her points were deducted," He added, and Hyemin looked down on the ground slowly. I tried to hold her hand but she objected.

"Haena, on the other hand, did a very great job." I averted my eyes from the ground to look at him. "Congrats, you passed this round." He announced, leaving me dumfounded and widened eyes.

"M-Me?" I pointed at myself, unable to bring myself to believe the words he said. I turned to the side slowly to look at Hyemin, and she gave an extremely fake smile.

"I'm sorry to say this but the third round will be held tomorrow since I'll be going somewhere on the day after," PD-nim said and I tried not to sigh loudly.

Everyone applauded, then left the room. I was about to hug Hyemin but she walked off the room quickly, with Hongseok running after her.

I looked down on the ground, feeling like crying my lungs out again. "Why aren't you happy?" Jungkook pinched my cheeks, lifting my face up.

"I think Hyemin is mad at me," I sighed and he gave me a question look.

"There are always winning and losing in competitions, you can't do anything about it," He lowered his face down to look at me but I looked away.

"B-But,"

"Don't worry too much, okay? You were so amazing just now," He used his thumbs to caress my cheeks.

"By the way, let's get started with the rapping practice," I changed the topic and he nodded, ruffling my hair.

"Have you ever rapped before?" He asked and I nodded. "But it was so-so," I added.

We started to leave the evaluation room when all of a sudden, I felt blood rushing from my nose and I used my palm to wipe it away.

"Haena? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Jungkook grabbed my wrist and I shook my head, feeling incredibly dizzy.

"I'm o—" Before I could say any more words, my legs are getting weaker and I feel like I'm about to pass out really soon.

"Haena!" I heard Jungkook calling me but I couldn't open my eyes anymore.

Ugh, what is happening?