serendipity ∙ jjk

seven - an offer he can't refuse.

Jungkook returns after receiving a text message from Yonghwa that you left, and he finds some self-restraint to come back without a scowl washed over his face, knowing well enough that he'll only get teased further about your presence. He's actually surprised you didn't leave after he did and stayed long enough to talk to his professor.

Whatever might have transpired between those two, he doesn't want to show that he cares. He doesn't even know why he would care anyway. Seeing you has been one coincidence after another and it only makes sense now that he knows you're part of the same department that is hosting the collaboration. It's like some weird twist of fate, but one that he can't help but think back to in frustration. Maybe he shouldn't have been such an asshole. It was a bad day, but was it an excuse to direct all his frustrations on someone that's going through their own shit?

He shakes his head, meeting eyes with a bemused Yonghwa who says exactly what Jungkook didn't want to hear. "You should do it."

"No." It's an automatic answer, maybe out of willful defiance as well as the nagging thought in the back of his head. Whether the "it" is the interview or the film festival, he doesn't want to ask.

"At least consider it."

"No. Whatever you're trying to sell me, I'm not buying it, Jung."

"The interview. I mean it. You should do it."

"Why should I? Shouldn't you be encouraging me to work on the documentary? It's my first piece that doesn't include a fictionalized screenplay."

Yonghwa heaves a sigh in hopes of alleviating the built up stress at the back of his head, sending a glare at the younger man. Exasperation coats his words.

"Are you really gonna make me play bad cop right now?"

It's a laughable threat, though one that Jungkook has yet to truly contest. He's certain that Yonghwa is incapable of enacting anything negative at all, sans the little jabs and quips, but even those are quite harmless in nature anyway.

"Hit me with your best shot."

Rather than an expression of joviality, one of smugness meets Jungkook, unsettling him. The very smirk on Yonghwa's handsome face makes his stomach drop—just a little.

"I will personally add your participation in this interview as an assignment to your final grade in my class."

Jungkook's jaw drops immediately. Many thoughts run through his mind, like is that even fucking possible? do I have to do this? why is he even going this great a length? But, of course it's possible, Yonghwa's still his professor at the end of the day, and it's far too late to change this to a Pass/No Pass grading system or even drop the course this late into the quarter. Of course he has to do this now. Whether he likes this or not, he had to maintain his GPA until he graduates, and receiving an Incomplete on his transcript screams, "Bad News!" to just about anyone. But, what he couldn't comprehend in the slight is why the older man would do this for some stupid department collaboration. Is there really no one else interested in participating? Does it really have to be him?

The longer he sits there wondering to himself, the longer Yonghwa waits, each minute ticking by serving as a reminder that he had a choice—agree and do some stupid interview, or disagree and forfeit his stellar grade.

There really is no loophole out of this. At least not any one that Jungkook could concoct at the moment. He relinquishes a sigh of his own, sending a glare at his mentor with extra vehemence and frustration, most of which is directed at himself for being unable to think of a way out of this stupid situation.

"Well, fuck. When you put it that way, then how can I say no?"

"That's the point. You can't, so hah. Checkmate." A triumphant look washes over Yonghwa's face, giving him some courage to ask the same dreaded question as before, "While I have your attention, why don't you consider doing the film festival also?"

Before Jungkook answers, he asks, "Is that going to be part of my grade too?"

"No, it's just a suggestion. I'm stern, but I'm not mean."

"Well, I decline," Jungkook states. He rises from the seat, no longer feeling obliged to sit and stay for another lecture about why he should get over his own stupid pride and agree to participate in the festival. A part of him wants to relent, not only for Yonghwa, but for himself as well. The idea itself would be great to advertise himself and his work, but he doesn't want to do that. That isn't why he started filming in the first place.

"But—" Yonghwa obviously wants to say more, but Jungkook has neither the patience or the willpower to sit through another lecture. Part of him is still angry at being forced to participate in the stupid collaboration with you, while the other part of him knows that if Yonghwa even gives him a reason to participate, he'll second-guess his decision and cave in.

"I have my documentary to work on, so I'll see you around."

As soon as Jungkook leaves, Yonghwa turns to his laptop and composes an email to you.