Jester | Jikook |

Chapter 13: Choose wisely

             "Y-yes.." Jimin responded as the King gave Jimin a sour look placing his hand on his hip.

              "Why are you so awkward? I'm not going to cut your head off." Jungkook said as he looked down at Jimin. "You must have something to say right? Go on... Say it."

               "I can't... M-my Ringmaster says I-"

               "-belong to him?" Jungkook asked trying to finish Jimin's words. "Be honest... Does the Ringmaster hate me?"

               "I can't say what he feels... and I wasn't going to say that I belong to him." Jimin assured. "It feels that way but he just wants to protect his performers and keep them close."

            "Is that so? I bet he told you not to look at me.. Didn't he?" Jungkook asked walking back to his seat across from Jimin.

             "Yes, My King..." Jimin replied as he looked at the contract infront of him. Half of him wanted to refuse but the other half wanted to entertain the King and be by his side. How could something so wrong feel just right?

                 "Do you really allow a man like that to boss you around just because he owns a contract with you?" Jungkook asked as he stared at Jimin. Not surprising. It was like Jimin caught his attention everyday even on those days where he wasn't even in the castle, there wasn't a split second Jungkook didn't think of the older boy.

                "He is the leader... My boss. Ta- I mean the Ringmaster, he owns the house we all live in and he takes good care of all of us. We owe him all of our time."

              "I get that... What's his name? Maybe... If you really want this, I can have a little talk with your Ringmaster. Get him to end your contract, while you can stay here with me." Jungkook said as Jimin didn't know what to choose... Jungkook was offering him something he wanted but it was bad for him to choose this.

            "I can't tell you his name.. He doesn't let us say it to others and wants his name a secret. I also can't accept this, My King.." Jimin confessed. "My king.. I can't." Jimin shook his head and pushed the contract up slowly as Jungkook looked at how Jimin pushed up the contract and before Jungkook can say anything.. Servants walked in with trays of food for a big feast.

            They placed side dishes infront fo Jimin and served him a main dish of squid, side dishes of cooked mushrooms, salted seaweed, rice, strips of meat that were cooked in the bitter yet tasteful dark soy sauce, some steamed vegetables, some warm vegetables and lettuce for wraps. They handed Jimin a spoon, steel chopsticks, a white napkin, a bowl of soup with noodles that had a boiled egg with seaweed, and bits of vegetables in it too.

            As the servants served the king too, they promised they will be back with tea so the five servants left and Jungkook kept staring at Jimin.

                "Will you think about it? Normally it's not a choice to others but since I'm feeling kind today, I'll tell you what great things will come of this." Jungkook said as he waited for Jimin to start eating first since he did seem older than the Young King.

          "How old are you?" Jungkook asked as Jimin looked up realizing he was older than Jungkook so he was to start eating first.

             "I'm Twenty-three... I'm sorry for taking long, My King." Jimin said as he began to eat first.

              "That's fine, I was just curious on how old you were.. I thought you were Twenty-two but I was close. Turns out you are older by two years. I was also waiting a bit too long there." Jungkook chuckled. "I know I'm the king and I have to eat first but I still stick to my manners." Jungkook then began to eat the noodles in his bowl as Jimin looked at the big plates of food. This caught Jungkook's attention. "Is it too much? I don't know how much you eat so I made sure you were served atleast enough." Jungkook claimed. The king had the same dishes but not the other main dish of squid.

              "I-I don't mind... I'm just glad I didn't eat nothing at all today just for the performance. So I will eat well... Thank you."

              "Things like this will come to you often.. If you want to sign the contract for me. You'll have your own room here in the castle and be by my side everyday. Of course I will have you sit next to me and not far." Jungkook claimed as Jimin eyed the contract.

              "I'll have to think about it... I'm just scared coming home to the Ringmaster shouting at me and telling me he doesn't want me near you..."

              "I know how important his performers are to him but if this is something you want. Do it and stand up for what you want. Why are you so scared of your Ringmaster?"

             "As I said before.. My Ringmaster is my boss.. I can't lose this job. I like to make people smile and I get paid for telling stories with my own dancing and emotions." Jimin responded as Jungkook nodded.

              "Do you... Want to accept this? I feel like you do but you're worried about what your friends will say..." Jungkook claimed.

              "I guess I am.." Jimin said as he let out a sigh. "I just don't want My Ringmaster to hurt me if I say I would leave.."

                "I don't think he'll hurt you. He can't be that insane about keeping you there." Jungkok assured. The King just thought Jimin wouldn't get hurt if Taehyung was to find out about this.

           But yet again, not many people knew what the Ringmaster could do and why he hid his identity from others outside of the circus group. Maybe there really was a big secret behind it all or just part of his act so he can keep an anonymous title to his name, Just to make his performance more interesting.