Can't we just be friends?

Chapter 6: Confrontation

When they reached, Jinyoung hesitated to enter the dorm. He could sense that something ominous was about to happen, so he nudged Jackson to enter first. "Wait, Jackson, you should go in first then tell me how angry they are," he told Jackson. Jackson dragged his luggage and went ahead into the dorm while I waited outside.

Jaebum looked up when he heard the door open but looked slightly disappointed. He thought it was Jinyoung. "Oh, it's you, Jackson...since when did you get back?" Jackson looked at the scene in front of him. Everyone was in the living room looking quite solemn. Jackson replied that he just got back and sensing the tense atmosphere, he tried to lighten up the mood by saying he bought presents for everyone. No one seemed happy about it and Jaebum curtly thanked him. Meanwhile, Jinyoung mustered up his courage and decided to enter the dorm. Once he got in, the members all looked up and all of them looked relieved that he was back home in one piece. However, the look of relief on Jaebum's face was instantly replaced by an angry one. Jaebum demanded an explanation from Jinyoung. "Tell us why you lied to us and skipped out on our group meeting. You were MIA for the entire night!" Jinyoung nervously said that he didn't know that there was a meeting and if he knew he would have gone for it. Jaebum was not satisfied with his answer. Jaebum continued to lash out, "And the reason you lied to us is..?" Jinyoung was starting to get annoyed. "What do you mean by lying? I just went out to take some breather. I checked with our manager, he said that it wasn't a very important meeting and that I could just catch up easily...I don't even get why are you so angry about..." Jinyoung said in exasperation. Jaebum insisted to know where Jinyoung disappeared to the whole night. "Ok, so tell me where did you disappear to?" Jinyoung stared at the ground and stayed silent. Why was he being interrogated? Must he really report everything he does to him?? Jackson did not like the way Jinyoung was put in the spot because of him so Jackson told Jaebum that it wasn't a big deal and that he was with him so if it is anybody's fault, it will be his. Jackson explained to Jaebum that they just swam. "He was with me, rest assured he wasn't doing anything reckless..." 

Jaebum tried to process the information. "Wait, so Jackson is saying that you lied to us about having a script-reading so that you could go swimming with him?" Jinyoung slowly nodded his head. Now, everyone listening was confused. There was a moment of silence until the leader confronted Jackson. "Seriously Jackson? You didn't bother to inform us that you are coming back, didn't turn up for our dance practice and the minute you landed, you decided that you wanted to hang out with Jinyoung?" Jackson retorted that he deserves to rest for at least a day after his heavy schedule and that he did not need to report to him. Jaebum was not pleased with his reply. "That's very selfish of you. It's your fault that your personal schedule is so packed that you hardly have any time for Got7 activities and now you decided to drag Jinyoung along with you? Let me guess.. you are encouraging him to pursue his acting career so you won't be the only one with solo activities with all the limelight???" Jackson clenched his fists and Jinyoung had to stop Jackson from punching Jaebum. "Do you even know how hurtful those words are? Everything Jackson has done, he is doing it for us! He is just trying to promote our group and for the record Jaebum, I like acting but I like the group even more!" Jaebum seemed to have regretted his choice of words but his pride would not allow him to apologize to Jackson. Mark tried to defend Jackson and Jinyoung was furious with Jaebum. "Look, stop blaming Jackson. I wanted to hang out alone with him...besides why should I tell you who I am hanging out with or what I am doing?" 

"I am your best friend of course I have the right to know everything!" Jaebum was surprised at Jinyoung's outburst. Mark took the opportunity to interject, "Jinyoung is right, I think you are too controlling and being unreasonable right now? Cut it out, let them just rest." Jaebum glared at Mark, "Am I being unreasonable? Every day I worry about our group's future, but it seems like our members are not taking it seriously. What's with the half-hearted dance practise in the afternoon...and then Jinyoung here decides to run off with Jackson?"

Seriously? Jinyoung was just getting very pissed off with Jaebum right now. What had gotten into him? He was behaving so strangely. 

Jinyoung challenged Jaebum. "Are you really accusing us of not being serious? Really?" 

At this point, the maknaes were scared that the hyungs were going to quarrel and then proceed to ignore each other for days maybe even weeks. They tried to reason things out to the hyungs. Yugyeom tried telling Jaebum that he should apologize to Jackson and Jinyoung for the hurtful words but Jaebum was not having it. "Stay out of it Yugyeom, this is between the hyungs!" Yugyeom stepped back and shrugged his shoulders. Bambam gave an 'at least you tried' look at Yugyeom.

Jinyoung closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair in frustration "Jaebum just quit it" Mark and Jackson backed Jinyoung and Jaebum was angry (or was he just plain jealous?) "Do you agree that I am being unreasonable? Answer me Jinyoung." In a moment of fury, Jinyoung retorted, "Yes you are too controlling, I don't know what's wrong with you. Why do you keep trying to assert your authority as a leader or as my best friend...you...you are too overbearing! Always have been. I can't stand you anymore!" "Overbearing? I am overbearing?" Jaebum was shocked that Jinyoung thought of him that way. All these years, was Jinyoung trying to put up with him? What about their friendship? As if Jinyoung could read his mind, he choked out that he had enough and if he doesn't stop, they could no longer be friends. Jaebum was hurt by those words and demanded Jinyoung to take those words back. Jinyoung stubbornly refused. "Wow, after all these years you finally admitted that you could not stand me?" At last, Jaebum sighed in frustration and left the dorm. Mark and Jackson stood by Jinyoung and comforted Jinyoung who looked like he was holding back tears. They didn't expect the fight to turn out like that.

Yugyeom went up to Jinyoung and asked if he was ok. Jinyoung threw an arm around Yugyeom and said that it wasn't a serious fight but Yugyeom did not look convinced. Neither was Jinyoung convinced that things were going to be alright. Maybe he went too far. But then Jaebum did too. 

Cracks were starting to form in their friendship... 

Later that night, Jaebum went up to Jinyoung's door hoping that he had cooled down and was willing to talk. However, Mark had stopped him. 

"I think you have done enough damage to him, leave him alone."

That night, both Jinyoung and Jaebum regretted their actions but neither wanted to apologise.

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To be continued 

Author's note:

Seriously Jaebum is just plain annoying here. Don't feel sad