Stylist {j.h} A BTS Fanfiction - ON HIATUS

이십 삼

Her

I stepped off at the bus stop amongst the tide of people disembarking. The wind swirled around the passengers, musing hair and ruffling papers. I wove my way through the crowds streaming past me and tried not to get pushed around too often by the flow of people. The door to the company's building came into view a few minutes later. A small space free of people surrounded the entrance.  

I ducked in through the front double doors, swiping my badge on the security dash as I walked by. The sudden transition from the bright light outside to the relative dimness indoors left me blinded for a few moments. In my unawareness of what's around me, I ran smack into someone exiting the building. 

I stumbled back as my glasses went askew on my nose. "Ah, pardon me, sir..." I stood up and straightened my glasses to see who it was I had just run into. "Jungkook?"

"Noona!" His bright eyes sparkle in the morning sunlight. "Ah, I'm so sorry I crashed into you." He smiled, cheeks pink and face flustered. 

"No, it's okay. I was in a rush and didn't look where I was going, that's all." I shake my hands. A bright, embarrassing blush spreading like spilled ink across my cheeks. "What are you doing here, Jungkook? You have delayed practice today, don't you?"

He nodded his head, eager to change the subject. "Yeah, I'm just here early as extra practice with the back-up dancers. Don't worry, I won't tell Chai you're here yet." He flashed me a cheerful smile.

An odd mixture of guilt and relief settle in my stomach. I had avoided Chai since that night at the pool. I pointedly ignored his calls over the weekend, furthering the divide in our friendship. "Thank you, Jungkook." 

He waves off the compliment. "It's nothing. Just trying to help out." He fidgeted with the long sleeves of his shirt for a long moment, not meeting my eyes. "Ah, noona, I was wondering... No, I shouldn't ask you this here." He turned to move away. I hooked my hand around his wrist and pull him back. 

"Jungkook, ask me. I'm not going to get mad." I matched his gaze and try to keep my ground. 

He glanced around the lobby suspiciously as if a fellow member was going to pop out from behind a door at any moment. "Alright, but you won't get mad at me for prying?"

I rolled my eyes. "I promise." 

He leaned in low and whispered, "Are you and hyung dating?"

Unanswered questions of my own bubble up behind my lips but I force them back down. One refused to leave. It circled my mind, taunting me just out of reach: how could I answer his question if I didn't know the answer myself? 

Jungkook pulled away quickly. He stuffed his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. "Noona?"

I squirmed under those innocent eyes. Big, deep pools of curiosity and youth swirling with hints of color in their depths. Did he know how conflicted his question made me feel? Could he read it in my eyes?

"I don't know how to answer that just yet," I said, trying to avoid a direct answer. I run a hand through the ends of my hair nervously. A thick, curly strand winding its way around my index finger in a nervous habit of mine. "Nothing is definite."

His shyness evaporated from his face like fog disappearing before the sunrise. "Really?" His expression falters. 

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Yeah," I looked down at the toes of my shoes.

"'Morning, everyone." 

I jumped at the sound. Jungkook waved cheerfully at someone behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see who it is. Hoseok stood on the other side of the lobby. His smile was as radiant as ever. Every bone in my body seemed to melt away until I'm left standing up by the sheer will to not embarrass myself. His clothes were ruffled by the wind, hair plastered to one side of his head with sweat.