A Window to the Past | Jikook ♥

Chapter 6

"Listen boys. I'm not firing a manager just because of an argument that could be resolved with simple apologies." Explained Bang PD-nim with a firm voice, looking at the seven boys before him under his glasses. Namjoon heaved out deep sigh. This was starting to be annoying.

It was the morning after the incident. The CEO had asked all of them to come in the meeting room to explain the situation face to face, and they were now all gathered around a wide table. Namjoon, constant to his role as the leader, had already explained what happened the day before, what had already happened many times before, and had stated that all the members had agreed that they couldn't keep Jungwoo as their manager anymore. Jimin was seated beside the leader, biting his lip nervously as his gaze travelled back and forth from Namjoon to the middle-aged man.

Jimin couldn't help but feel guilty. If he had been able to sing that damn note, if he had been able to dance as perfectly as he was expected to, if he had been able to not be exhausted and sleepy everyday, they wouldn't be in this mess. Though he knew it wasn't entirely his fault, that he shouldn't blame himself that much, but he couldn't help it. It was in his nature to be hard on himself. It was his burden.

"Jimin? Do you corroborate what Namjoon is saying? Do you feel like Jungwoo has been unfair towards you?" The CEO was now looking at him expectedly, and Namjoon gave Jimin a little encouraging smile.

"Well..." Jimin cleared his throat anxiously. "Manager Jungwoo is clearly someone who likes to abuse of his power, and his moods are a little... unpredictable. Though I know I need to improve a lot, and that's maybe why he treats me differently from the others, but..." Before Jimin could say more, the CEO cut him out.

"See? Nothing that can't be fixed! I'll call Jungwoo upstairs and we can all discuss this situation as real grown-ups." He looked at the seven of them with a little smile that transpired condescension, before lurching toward his phone.

"No, no!" Young hit his fist against the hard wood of the table, causing the CEO's cup of coffee to quiver. "You weren't there, you didn't see his expression! He enjoys doing this. I know this kind of people, trust me, and nothing good will come out from keeping Jungwoo." he stammered with a dead serious expression. Yoongi was staring at Bang PD-nim, his gaze pleading for the man to understand. Nothing was said for a few seconds. Bang PD-nim pinched the bridge of his nose before joining calmly his hands on the table.

"Sorry to disappoint all of you, but I am the one who makes the decisions. No, I wasn't there yesterday, nor at any other practice, but that is because I was busy running this company. Besides, we can't afford losing a manager." He added as a matter of fact. The seven of them said nothing as they were scolded coldly. Bang PD-nim then called manager Jungwoo upstairs and they waited in a tensed and awkward silence. Protesting was no use now. They knew well that despite how much they hated Jungwoo, they couldn't go against PD-nim's will.

After a few minutes of a deafening silence except for the incessant ticking of a clock, two knocks broke the tension and the door opened on their manager, looking sheepish and small despite his bulky stature as he took a sit on the large round table, and suddenly the tension in the air amplified tenfold. Jungwoo gave a small, almost uncertain smile to them and it felt so fake and unlike him that Yoongi already felt his blood boiling in his veins and Namjoon gritted his teeth together. The CEO returned a kind smile, oblivious to the tension, and Jimin felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

The middle-aged man hastily offered Jungwoo to explain his view on his relations with the boys. Jungwoo opened his mouth to start talking and there it started.

The lies. Lies lies lies. But they weren't exactly in what he was saying: his whole being felt like a lie. His demeanour, his words and personality felt fake and pretending.