Accidentally Assisting

Chapter 15 - Merry Christmas

And then, award season finally starts, and I forgot myself in the whirlwind of those stressful yet exciting days.

The boys are performing exceedingly well and winning one award after the other. Not that anyone's surprised. At one point, I almost start feeling sorry for the other hard-working groups because there's no award left for them.

I'm so busy that I forget moping around because I'll miss Christmas with my family. It's just one year, what does it matter? My parents will survive without me. There are far worse problems in the world.

Still, there's a bang of guilt and sadness in my heart as I sit in the waiting with Jungkook. BTS has just rehearsed and is eating some snacks before their performance tonight.

Jungkook is eating chicken next to me and scrolling through his phone, ignoring me in his typical Jungkook-manner. I've learned not to take it personally, and I'm sitting next to him, legs crossed, pretending to read through e-mails on my laptop when I'm actually responding to Christmas wishes on WhatsApp from my family overseas.

"Merry Christmas, Rose!", Jimin suddenly says cheerfully out of nowhere, walking over to us. "Fancy a chicken?" One appetizing looking chicken wing is dangling between his fingers.

Politely, I refuse. "No, thank you. I eat too messily and unlike you guys I have nothing else to change into."

Jungkook snorts at that – at home, he's often witnessed my messy eating habits -, but I decide to gracefully ignore him.

"What are you doing tonight? Joining your parents?", Jimin asks as he plops down on my left since my right is already taken by my dear boss.

I just shrug. "No, it'll be too late. I'll just join them tomorrow."

"Aww." Jimin keeps munching on the chicken. "Your parents aren't too disappointed?"

Carefully, I glance at Jungkook, who's still pretending to be engrossed in his phone, but I know him better than that now. Even when it seems like he's not listening, he's always listening. Seriously, this guy should have become a spy.

If it was just Jimin and me, I would probably tell him the truth and admit that I am sad and disappointed to work on Christmas, but because Jungkook's around, I'm more cautious. It irks him when I complain, and he's right. Complaining is immature.

So instead, I just respond: "Yes, but they know that working is part of life. Besides, historians these days reckon that Jesus probably wasn't even born on the night of the 24th."

Jimin giggles at that – this man is really just a walking anti-depression pill- before patting my head in an endearing way. "Look at you, how much you've grown, Rose-ah."

The most frustrating thing about me having to work today is that I still don't see why considering there's a sufficient amount of employees around. I'm sure they just did that to make themselves feel safer – the more employees, the better- and to send me a clear message: BigHit always, always comes first.

I recall what Sana told me on my first day, that I would always have to put Jungkook first. Back then, I didn't quite fathom what she meant, but now I do, I really do. I feel like there's no aspect of my life anymore that doesn't revolve around Jungkook, and while I've grown accustomed to it, it still bothers me sometimes.

That's not wrong, right?

Later that night, after a wonderful performance, BTS films a "thank you" video for their fans. My eyes wander from smiling Jungkook to my bag. My bag, where I've hidden my present.

Part of me feels almost nervous to gift him something. What if he dislikes it? What he finds it ridiculous that I've even prepared a gift for him, taking to account the fact that Koreans don't celebrate Christmas the way Westerners do?