serendipity ∙ jjk

six - you again!

The next day, you promptly arrive at the Film department at 7 A.M.

While it is a hefty price to pay for an interview, you're willing to pay your due if it means finally getting a goddamn article written for the newspaper. You're absolutely frightened about how this might turn out, especially with such a huge responsibility now placed on your shoulders, considering how important Jungkook's piece is. Out of all the interviewees, he's the hardest to pin down, and whether that's a good thing or not depends entirely on how this exchange goes down.

Knocking on the door, you hear a very faint, almost familiar voice tell you to come in. But your mind is buzzing with the question Jungkook isn't hoping to hear for a second time in a row. Luckily, you have some leverage, thanks to Jennie, about how to convince him if he outright declines you like he did with Myungjun.

You immediately introduce yourself as you enter, slowly taking in your setting as the door widens. "Hi there, I'm Y/N L/N with the English department. I've been tasked with interviewing you, and I swear I'll make it worth your while. Just hear me out—"

The more you see the room, the more you can pinpoint it like any other office on campus; however, instead of filled-to-the-brim bookshelves like the English department offices, this one is filled with movie posters and little film trinkets on the shelves. There's even an array of DVDs and VHSs in the smaller slots with some titles that you recognize and others that you've never even heard of. Everything is actually pretty neat until your gaze stops short at the familiar face looking at you in disbelief.

"It's you," he says, eyebrows now furrowing. "What are you doing here?"

"You're Jungkook?" you say, feeling completely baffled. The realization of how everyone else seemed so sure that you and Jungkook knew each other becoming blatantly clear. But how?

He scoffs, obviously still miffed about yesterday's coffee spillage. "Are you stupid? You didn't even check up on what I look like before interviewing me? Are you from this century? Or were you just waiting to get me alone to ask? Was that why you spilled coffee on me?"

"What...?" This time you stare at him in disbelief, readying a retort to fire back, "What in the flying fuck are you talking about? I already told you yesterday was an accident, and I told you I was sorry... seems like someone has the memory span of a goldfish."

The last part comes out as a grumble. You mentally scold yourself for being so difficult, but seeing him again makes your blood boil the moment he opens his egotistical mouth.

Somehow the phrase, "But listen, can we just get over that? Just give me an hour for an interview" sounds too wrong for you to actually say aloud. No matter how dire this is, you don't want to beg, but standing there with your lips clamped shut obviously isn't helping anyone either.

Just as you're about to open your mouth to say something, anything, he barks out a sharp, brief laugh.

"No goddamn way," he says with a shake of his head. "Regardless of whatever apology you have to say, because that sorry excuse yesterday was hardly an apology, let me just say this clearly for you to pass along to the others: I'm not interested."

"Like you even listened to my apology the first time," you mumble, eyes narrowing just as his do. If you loosened your self-restraint by even a millimeter, you would've punctuated your statement with prettier words. But you decide against it for the sake of your own sanity. If you start another altercation with him, you're not sure if it'll ever end at this point.

He stares at you a moment longer. It's almost too long from the abrupt way he breaks the contact to leave. "Bye."

He doesn't give you a chance to say another word, because the shutting door beats you to the punch. You groan a very clear fuck.

You actually don't know how long you've been standing there, or if you've moved at all since trying to figure out how and why you of all people were given the opportunity to interview Jeon Jungkook, the last fucking person on the planet that would want to be interviewed by you. But the longer you stand there, the more it dawns on you that this must have been a mistake made by Yeri... or Jennie. But, again, how?

"Hey, er, who are you?" He squints behind you, probably looking for Jungkook before settling on the conclusion that it is just you and him there. "Also, why did Jungkook leave?"

"Oh, I'm Y/N L/N." You extend a hand out to receive the professor's in a handshake. "I'm here to interview Jungkook. Well, I was hoping to."

"Didn't Myungjun tell you guys that Jungkook wasn't interested? Why are you so down about it?" Despite some hesitance, the look on Professor Jung's face doesn't indicate any anger or frustration on the matter. In fact, you swear you see some interest as you answer his question.

"Er, well, yeah. This is my first story, and as uninterested as he is about this kind of coverage, I—er, can I tell you my opinion since you're his professor?" Professor Jung even nods, smiling at you as well and it helps make you feel at ease to continue confidently. "I genuinely think he would benefit from it considering I'm probably right to assume that his not-so-great reputation on campus might actually affect the way film companies will view him."

It actually takes the older man to respond, and it isn't like he responded with a statement of more than five words either. "Wow, you're really thoughtful."

"I just understand that one's reputation can play a detrimental role in future jobs. It'd be a shame for him to lose out on opportunities for being a poor sport."

"Right you are," he says with an appreciative nod. He pauses in thought and focuses on a spot on the ground, but it doesn't take longer than a second until his gaze is trained back on you, this time with reassurance and confidence. "Tell you what, Y/N. I'll help you out."

You blink at him. Truthfully, you didn't expect him to even compliment your reason, but assistance too? Maybe miracles do exist after all.

"Really?"

"Yeah, just do me a favor in return okay?"

"Okay, what is it?"

"Write a worthwhile article about him. Can you do that?" Professor Jung looks at you with fire in his eyes, as if this was some exchange for one of the seven wonders in this world. You can tell he cares about Jungkook. It's rare for a professor to be this dedicated, but you can't deny that you respect him for it. It actually makes you want to know why that is, so you nod just as solemnly and you mean every word of your response.

"I promise."