Accidentally Assisting

Chapter 16 - Value of a Cockroach

Slowly, I turn around to face the group's oldest member. "Um, no, I don't."

"Yes, you do." He shoots me an innocent smile. "Remember what you just told me?"

How evil.

I gasp. "I trusted you!"

Jin just snickers at this. "You shouldn't have, dear."

Jungkook looks between the two us like he's following a tennis match, clearly confused. "What is going on? What do you need to tell me, Rose?"

"Yes, Rose," Jin imitates his younger friend's deep voice, "what do you need to tell him?"

"You seriously have no conscience," I scoff at him before turning to Jungkook and saying through gritted teeth: "Youlookveryhandsometodayoppa."

Jungkook amusedly raises his eyebrows at me, corners of his mouth rising. He's clearly understood me, but I know him well enough by now to know this won't be the end of it. "Could you maybe repeat that, Rose? I didn't quite hear you."

Next to me, Jin snickers, obviously having the time of his life. Gosh, I hate them both. Two annoying brats.

"You. Look. Very. Handsome. Tonight. Oppa.", I say, glaring at him at the same time.

My boss laughs at this, satisfied, before ruffling my hair. "Thank you." Then, his eyes glide over me, and he says a bit more quietly, serious this time: "You're really pretty tonight, by the way."

I stand up, playfully winking at him. Time for revenge. "Of course I do. I told you, I have to look good for EXO."

This earns me a withering glare from Jungkook, making Jin burst out in laughter. "Stop joking."

"I already told you, I'm not joking," I answer innocently. "Who's your bias? Mine is Sehun. Such beautiful facial features."

Then, I hand him his backpack that I've filled with all his belongings earlier. "This is your stuff, by the way. I'll see you in the car, yes?"

Without waiting for a response, I offer him a last, cheeky smile before walking away.

Behind me, Jin's still laughing. "You know, Jungkookie, it fills me with immense joy when people talk back to you."

...

The afterparty goes by very quickly. No one pretty much talks to the staff and me, but since that's what I expected, I'm not really offended by it. We're not very interesting compared to the idols. Besides, I enjoy conversing with my own colleagues and getting drunk on complimentary cocktails that I would never able to afford.

And that are a nice change from soju.

Therefore, I also lose sight of Jungkook. Again, nothing surprising and nothing quite sad, since I already see him every day. While I've gotten used to this young man, it's healthy to catch a break once in a while.

Still, at one point or another, it has gotten late and I decide to find Jungkook to go home with him. Us going home together is something I haven't questioned since we live together and Jungkook is actually quite introverted when he's not around people he's comfortable with. His social batteries must be empty at this point.

After aimlessly wandering around, I finally spot him talking to a young woman. Squinting my eyes, I recognize Jennie from BlackPink. As I approach them, I cannot take my eyes off her. She's even more breath-taking in real life. It feels like some people were just born to be extraordinary. Like her, like Jungkook.

The two of them make a good pair, and I cannot help but feel small and insignificant next to them.

While I am aware that my appearance does not determine my self-worth, sometimes it is hard to stick that belief that I'm surrounded by overly attractive people all day. And with Jungkook and Jennie, it's not just their looks: they are both extremely talented as well.