own it (it's yours) - taekook/vkook

chapter 10

[siete.]

With expanded, hopeful eyes, Jeongguk continues scanning over the crowd that keeps growing because of people going in and out of the spacious room. He saw parents, families sitting down on the chairs just a few meters behind and the smile on his face earlier just grows bigger because he can't wait to see both his father and mother soon.

He was also especially excited today since his mother promised she was going. Even through her tight schedule, barely even going home the past nights because of her job, she promised she would come and see Jeongguk's dance recital with his classmates. He'd missed her so much and he really really prepared for his performance today just for his mother.

The small boy's strong hold on the metal chair he was sitting on just grows tighter as he feels his stomach quiver with excitement. Namjoon, his best friend, is busy gushing about how he's nervous for what'll happen later but Jeongguk knows. He just knows that everything will go smooth because his mom will be going.

There's a thud on the microphone that makes him flinch but the next thing he knows is that their teacher is already ushering all the children towards the backstage. His short legs struggle to follow as his friends grabs him by his arm, his eyes flickering to the main door of the venue for the nth time that day and his smile weakening slowly because he hasn't seen any of his parents yet.

And he sees his dad just making his way in, right on time, with a professional camera in his hand. Jeongguk knows his mother will follow just a few seconds after so the smile on his face goes back as he waves excitedly to his father. His dad sees him, smiling so wide and genuine before waving back.

"Jeon." Someone mutters his last name as though they were mocking it. Even without looking Jeongguk could already tell who that voice belongs to.

His face pulls into a repulsed grimace before looking at the said person. "What is it again, Cho?"

Cho Eunsoo only laughs with his friends at the response of the younger male. Jeongguk feels his friend's grasp on him constrict, as if he knew that trouble was going to come and they need to go.

Unfortunately, there's no way they can escape Eunsoo because he's part of the recital too.

"Your mother coming this time?"

Jeongguk's nails dig further into his palm and he feels his jaw clamp as his teeth clash against each other. "She is."

"Really?" Eunsoo doesn't seem convinced. He even titters as though he finds something amusing. "Or she just told you that to keep your hopes up... again?"

"Shut up, Eunsoo. Go find someone else to bully or I'll be complaining to the teacher about you again," a tall female comes to stop the small kids bickering. The camera's strap that carries the weight of the camera dangles around her neck. "We know how that went last time, do we?"

The sly smile falls from Eunsoo's face and he immediately cowers, leaving the scene with his friends easily and heading towards the backstage.

"You okay, Jeongguk-ah?"

Jeongguk looks up at her with a growing smile on his face, "Yes, Siyeon-noona. Thank you."

"Good," she ruffles with his soft hair and smiles brightly. "The two of you should be preparing by now. Follow Eunsoo and his friends. If they bother you again, don't hesitate to tell the teachers. They'll handle it."

Namjoon just nods his head obediently with a relieved grin.

Once they're all settled behind the curtains, hearts beating too fast to be considered normal, Jeongguk takes a deep breath. From here, he wouldn't be able to see his parents since the stage was a bit far from the audience and also the lights were obscuring him from seeing the audience clearly.