First Love

Chapter 7

Yoongi was famished.

He was still at the agency with some of the members after their practice and meeting session. Their comeback and concert tour was just around the corner. Everyone was working around the clock so that the CB would be smoothly executed without any hitch.

He was on intermittent fasting since 6 a.m. and he should finish his 16 hours fasting period at 10 p.m. It was quarter to 10 now. After the long hours of work and countless cups of iced Americano, he was thinking of eating something hearty and fulfilling. He needed Korean food. Fast. He turned on to his group chat and typed straight away.

BH SUGA: Anyone still at the company and hungry?

BH Taehyung: ME!

BH Jin-hyung: Me too

BH SUGA: Anyone else?

BH Taehyung: The rest already went back

BH Jimin: I'm at home hyung, hungry too.

BH Jin-hyung: Too bad Jimin, I will eat for you.

BH SUGA: Thinking of going out to eat.

BH Taehyung: Western or local?

BH SUGA: I want kimchi jjigae so bad

The studio doorbell rang at that moment with Taehyung outside with his jacket and face mask. "That was fast," Yoongi remarked.

"I'm hungry too, hyung," pouted Taehyung.

"Where's Jin hyung?"

"Here," said Jin as he walked to them, putting on his jacket. "Any place in mind?" he asked.

"I don't know, up to you," replied Yoongi.

"Yaaaa how can you not know when you are the one who wanted kimchi jjigae. I thought you already have somewhere to go," said Jin exasperated. Choosing a place to eat when everyone said – up to you is always a torture.

Taehyung saved the situation by showing them his phone. "How about this place? It's not that far. The review said the food is good and it is not too crowded."

Jin and Yoongi looked at Taehyung's phone and nodded in agreement.

"Walk or drive?" Jin asked.

"How far is it?" asked Yoongi to Taehyung.

"30 minute by foot, 5 minute drive," answered Taehyung.

"I can't wait 30 minutes," Yoongi clarified.

"Drive then. Who's driving?" asked Jin.

"I will. Let me get the keys," offered Taehyung.

They arrived at a small and cozy restaurant not long after. They were greeted by the sound a happy piano tune. There was only a handful of patrons inside and they ordered their food as soon as they sat down.

"Taehyung, this sound is familiar right?" asked Jin. Taehyung was busy filling their glasses with plain water as they waited for their order and Yoongi dove straight to the side dishes that was served.

"I miss this song," Taehyung said to Jin.

"Oh no, not again Taehyung," Jin groaned.

"What is it Jin-hyung?" Yoongi asked.

"The humming torture of death," Jin said with a shudder.

Taehyung snapped his finger, "It was the track from Monster Tree," replied Taehyung. It was a game on the app that was developed by a local game company that went viral couple of years back. The game was not that challenging but it was fun and the game track was infectious. It became the national earworm of the year.

"Ahh, yes. Monster Tree. Surprised to hear that in a restaurant," commented Jin.

"I think the song is going to be stuck in my head again," announced Taehyung.

"Taehyung, no!!! Anyway that keyboardist is talented," Jin commented. They could only see the person's back. Patrons won't see it at first but there was a keyboard near the fire exit and it was camouflaged by the dark colours of that particular wall. Jin paused as he saw Yoongi, with his gaze, frozen. The game song ended and the person continued playing a fast paced classical song beautifully. The keyboard was placed facing the wall and the keyboardist's profile looked really familiar from behind.

"Is that...." Taehyung trailed off.

"Jae?" added Jin.

She was too immersed playing Franz Liszt's La Campanella to notice the audience behind her. She was closing her eyes savouring the tune of the song.

Jin, Taehyung and Yoongi sat in silence as they too, were lost in the melody. La Campanella was one of the most difficult song to play with due to the enormous jumps for the right hand. It was also played at an uncomfortably speedy tempo.

And Jae was playing it flawlessly.

When the song ended, everyone in the restaurant stood up and gave her a standing ovation. Yoongi saw Jae froze as she spotted them in the restaurant.

She still haven't lost her touch, thought Yoongi to himself. On an instinct, he took out his phone and went busy. He had a nagging feeling that she wrote the Monster Tree track. He was right. She was credited as the co-producer and the sole song writer. He mentally calculated how much she could get from that song alone. She could be living comfortably.

Then why the heck did she need another 3 more jobs around the clock?

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Author's note: I'm not actually a fan of classical music but writing this story is turning me into one because of the simple research I did. If you're wondering about La Campanella, this is a video on it and you can see how difficult it is to play - unless you're a professional.