A Night-Long Lament

getting informed

(Your POV)

       Yoongi and I step back into the dining hall to see that they've already cleaned up the table. Yoongi gives me a shrug. But soon the girls realize he's back and crowds over him, pushing me out of the way.

        Aish.... what the hell...

       "What were you doing with Yoongi?" A tall man steps beside me and leans over to whisper in my ear.

       "He was just showing me the way back to the dining room. Nothing special." I look up at him and realize it's Jin. "O-oh, uh, hi Prince Jin." I suddenly utter, remembering to give him my respect.

       "Alright... you have a nice day...." he looks at me as if waiting for an answer.

       "Your... name....?" He awkwardly says.

       "O-oh it's y/n." My face flushes with embarrassment.

       "Hah.. you're not used to this I presume?"

       I shake my head furiously. "Not at all. I'm just a civilian after all." After my statement, he gives me an odd look but quickly dismisses it.

      "Is this place to your liking?" He continues the conversation, which makes me a bit uncomfortable. I didn't expect him to.

     "I'm getting used to it. I use to live in a small house, so it's a little foreign." I rubbed the back of my neck and looked up at Jin.

     "I see. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can come and visit me." Jin gives me a bubbly smile and a thumbs up.

     "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." I give a polite smile as the rest of the girls are sent out of the dining hall. "I'd better head out... I'll see you again, Prince." I wave a goodbye and follow the herd of girls towards a hall. I crane my neck to look over the girls' head to try and get a look as to what we're heading to. I see a big room, where the king sits in an over-decorated chair.

     "If you girls didn't know already, you all have 3 months until few of you can marry one of my sons. But there are far too much of you." The king's voice overwhelms my ears.

     But... I thought the guards said there weren't very many of us this year...? Just how crowded was it the year before me?

     "Throughout the next 3 days, my sons and I will decide 14 people who will stay with us. This will occur every week, changing the number of girls leaving until we've narrowed it down enough. That means those of you who haven't been picked will depart from us."

     "Father, your delivery sounds a bit too harsh." A voice comes out from behind the crowd. The girls part a path, as I see Jin walk down to his father, straightening his collar.

     "Son..."

     "All of you girls are extremely charming in your own way. And some are just too out of our league... you'll always find better people than us to live for, so those who will be back home will be remembered and loved." Jin blows a kiss into the crowd and leans in next to his father to whisper something.

      I take a deep breath and sigh.
At least I'm going to go home soon.

      The king goes on to say how they will be picked based on qualities they're looking for. I look up at Jin, to see him a bit uncomfortable. He speaks up and agrees with his father, throwing compliments and cutting off his father's words.

      "I want to let all of you know, that you are all wonderfully talented girls--" Jin tries to stop his father from continuing his speech, but his father pulls him down to whisper something in his ear. Jin walks off the podium and heads behind curtains.

       Quickly dismissing the fact he left, I listen in on his father finishing up his speech.

      "I want to thank you all for coming to spend your time here. You can make your way to the common room where my sons reside. " He stands up and follows the tracks of where Jin left.

       I spot Jin out of the corner of my eyes. "Prince Jin--"

      He looks down at me, tracing his eyes to my voice. "Y/n? You should go to the common room, I'll be there in a moment." He leans against the wall and scans the room.

      "Ah... Alright." I turn around and quickly make my way to the common room.

       As I enter the common room, I see everyone talking to each other, and the princes having a fun time charming everyone. But Jin doesn't come in yet.

      "I don't know why you just don't talk to one of the princes. You'll have a better chance of staying." a voice comes up from behind me, and I quickly turn to see who the voice belongs to.

      "Oh, Prince Jin you came." I turn my body to face him. "I don't know. They all seem nice, it's just there are so many people crowding them I can never get to truly know them." I shrug at him and look off the side.

      "You have a point... but we can't help how many candidates are here from the start." He crosses his arms and looks around the room.

      "I'm surprised no one has come to huddle around you yet." I jokingly say. "Oh-- Sorry- I didn't mean it that way--" I realize what I said and quickly apologize.

       "No, no. It's fine. It's overwhelming so it's good to just have a little one-on-one." He laughs.

       "Haha..." I awkwardly laugh with him. I take a deep breath and gather to courage to ask Jin. "So, what was the deal with you leaving the podium and all that?"

       He straightens his back and drops his arms to the side of him. "Oh, my father just told me to go grab something for him."

       "Oh. I see. Sorry for being nosy." I give a tiny bow.

       "It's alright. Curiosity gets the best of us." He goes back to a relaxed position. "Is that the only reason you don't talk to them? That it's too crowded?"

        No.

        "Yea."

        "Mm." Jin looks away from my gaze.

        "Alright, whatever you say, Missus." Jin pats my shoulder and walks over to rejoin his brothers. 

Maybe this place isn't as bad as I thought.