Three, Two, One

trotterfunk underground

Jungkook

Jimin invited me to see him dance at a nearby underground hiphop dance competition. Apparently it starts at eight. I have more time to be home by 9 since Jimin will just be there to watch.

"What is this place called anyway?" I ask, struggling to squeeze into the crowd.

"Trotterfunk underground. It sounds weird but amateur hiphop dancers gather here to dance. I sometimes like watching them. It makes me feel inspired." He says while watching the kid with dreadlocks beat the girl with a skull print tattoo on her right arm.

The kid with dreadlocks is stout but he is pretty much very creative with his routine. I knew about these since Jimin used to practice in front of me during highschool. He says most kids have their own routines and they compliment it with freestyling so it wouldn't look mechanical and practiced.

"Did you ever want to join them?" I ask.

He raises his shoulder, indicating that he doesn't know. "My manager keeps me from going in to these kinds of things. He says I get distracted easily."

"But you said that you get inspired when you watch them dance."

He smirks at himself. "I get this fire in me whenever I see a person beat someone in dance. It's like battle royale where you have to survive. Instead of joining them in there, I like to imagine myself in their shoes. Would I have done that sick move or would I stick to what I practiced for? Many possibilities would lead to two outcomes, either I win or I lose. The same goes for my career. If I choose to be bounded by a management, would I be successful? If I go solo, would I be a failure?"

I didn't know what to reply. His thoughts are really deep for someone like him. I know I shouldn't be prying but if he doesn't try to get in that ring and dance with those kids, he will never have the opportunity to do so.

"You should join them, Jimin." I tell him while holding his arm. He looks at it. "I know you feel stuck especially with authorities telling you what not to do... And well... With our situation..."

He snorts.

"What? I'm trying to be a good friend here!" I pout.

"You look cute when you try to be good." He says pinching my nose. I rub at it.

"Whatever. I'm just saying, you have to get in there if you want to find yourself and be free." I tell him.

He pulls me closer to him in the sea of people. He embraces me, as a friend.

"You know, not everyone here really cares if I just smooch you up." He says, snorting.

I glare at him while he is still embracing me. He's small so it looks like we're brothers. "You know, I can easily kick you in the face if you continue."

He pulls away and pats me in the head. I groan and untousle my messed up hair. "I won't do you like that. I'll play this game with mr. Softboy, fairly."

"Will you stop calling Taehyung softboy. He's very manly." I say while reminiscing that night we spent at the park. The moon was our witness.

He rolls his eyes and faces the ring of dancers. He looked very regal in the profile view, all with his sharp jawline and crisp face. To think he is smaller than me but he looks totally cool.

"If ever you find yourself going to me, I'll try to get in there. I'll think of it as a reward for winning you." He mutters.

I don't reply.

---

As soon as the underground thing ended, Jimin dropped me by my neighborhood's entrance. He didn't want Taehyung to see him any more so he insisted on getting ahead.