Lee Jieun's POV
And it turns out it's Rowoon, whom I guessed but kept to myself.
He had already reached an hour before us . Simply dressed in a sweater and jeans but the heads he had turning would make you think otherwise.
"Everyone meet my older brother, Rowoon." Heejin wraps her arm around his smiling sweetly.
The guys except Jungkook exchange pleasantries before we head to the karaoke room. As we walk in the fluorescent hallways, Rowoon moves next to me.
"Hey there!"
"Hi! I didn't know college students studying architects actually have time to go hang out in the middle of the week." I tease.
"Oh for you I would drop everything just to see you! When Heejin told me you'd be coming, I didn't have to think twice." He winks.
I fluster looking away , meeting eyes with jungkook who had already sat down. He coldly broke the gaze.
"The cat got your tongue?" He asks the obvious as he holds up my chin and peers at me smiling innocently.
"Oh you know I just got tired of hearing those lines. But you remember when I told you about the Jieun effect? Yeah that's it!" I say as I wink this time and hurriedly walk over to Taehyung who's at the front, it is way safer over here.
But I couldn't ignore the quick glance Jungkook gave me when I walked past him.
—-
Jimin obviously went first and ruined our eardrums for the rest of the night by choosing a very loud rockstar song.
How he still has some energy in him amazes me.
We're sitting round a squared table; Taehyung at the left end laughing his heart out at Jimin, Heejin sat first and Rowoon next to her.
As I roam about awkwardly around the table to sit, I move to sit vertically to Rowoon. Though I am stopped when I feel a warm hand hold me.
Jungkook sits down first and moves his hand motioning me to sit next to him.
—-
After rounds of everyone singing along and laughing, we sat exhausted with the disco lights dancing. Noticing, we hadn't ordered what to eat, I decided to go and order.
"I'll come with you." Jungkook and Rowoon simultaneously offered as I get up.
The guys both surprised look at each other as they stood up.
Jimin then stepped in.
"Let Jungkook go since you are gonna have to move everyone if you get out." He reasons shyly and Rowoon just mumbles an ok.
"What should I get for you guys?" I ask and I'm flooded with list of things. The guys suggested getting beer since they are all legal along with beer snacks, and I suggested we get sweet sour chicken with steamed pork.
As Jungkook and I step out, he talks to me for the first time since we came here.
"We should do a number together, how about Happiness by MAKTUB?"
"Oh yess that's such a good one it's been years since I sang it." I exclaim and unaware we both start humming to the song.
When we realized that, we both enter into a fit of laughter. His eyes crinkled cutely. I really didn't realize how beautiful his laugh is till now.
If I could slap myself to another country, I would
Jungkook had recovered from his laughter a while ago and I was still in a trance as I gazed at him
"Jieun?" He softly laughs as I am pulled to reality. Blinking my eyes rapidly, I just walk away. A bubbly laughter echoed behind me through the dimly lit corridor.
"I wanted to ask but I didn't get the chance to, did I hear it correctly when Rowoon said he joined us because you're coming?" Jungkook questions as we head back to the rest.
Flustered, I just mumble a yeah. "But who can blame him, I'm too irresistible." I wiggle my eyebrows.
"I highly doubt!" He snorts.
Appalled, I look at him wide mouthed, "What do you mean by that?"
Shrugging unbothered, he opens the door signaling me to go on in with a tease.
Once I reach the table my eyes meet with Rowoon who had already gotten up. He took away everything off my hand to help me and used his other hand on my back to guide me to sit next to him.
Jungkook didn't look my way and sat down next to me.
We had just started eating when I noticed my hair is getting in the way. I really get irritated when it fell over my face even thought I tuck it behind my ear multiple times.
"You ok?" Rowoon asks.
"Yeah I just need to tie my hair." I pull out the hair tie from my back pocket.
"Let me help you then since your arm is gonna hit Jungkook in the face." He laughs. I assure him I can do it fine by myself but he takes out of my hand and starts gathering my hair in his hands.
I really didn't know what to do but just sit there because he's already doing it. I feel a heavy stare from Jungkook's side.
"All done!" Rowoon smiles happy as he tucks my stubborn strands behind my ear.
"Thank you." I stutter.
"Pass me a beer" Jungkook says to jimin.
"Hey man are you ok?" Jimin asks worried.
"You never drank before though." Taehyung adds.
"Do I need a special occasion to drink now? Just pass me one."
—-
I really don't know why I lost my appetite that quick even though I was really hungry. I could feel the smell of heavy beer brush over me every-time Jungkook speaks.
His leg brushing over mine as he gets closer with every sip, even though he doesn't look back at me.
"Are you ok? You haven't eaten much. Do you not feel well?" I'm then having a hand laying on my forehead to check my temperature, it is Rowoon.
It was so unnecessary for him to do that so I take his hand away.
"Are you sure?" He peers at me gently.
"Here have this." I see Jungkook pick his chopstick with a rice cake in front of my face.
He does it with a straight face, so I just eat it off.
With a fond smile, he leans in reaching to my chopstick. His hand cups mine as I hold into chopsticks.
"Eat." he added.
—-
"No I really don't drink." Rowoon says as he waves his hand at the one Jungkook is passing him.
"Come on we're all drinking it seems unfair for the oldest here not to. Unless you can't hold your liquor." Jungkook smirks. I noticed he drank three cans already.
"It's surely not that." I sit down after singing with Heejin and find both the guys in a tense atmosphere.
"Oh it surely means that." Jungkook intendedly pokes his ego.
"Well fine then!" Rowoon takes it and starts drinking.
—-
Jungkook has had five cans now and it is pretty obvious he is getting drunk. I am getting a bad feeling about tonight but I shove it back to my head. As for Rowoon, he is on his third one now. I really don't think it was good idea for him to drink and actually I don't think he can hold it. He's started slurring his words.
"You know, I knew you were beautiful seeing it this up close is something else. Your eyes are so pretty!" He hiccups slurringly.
"But you know what else made fall for you- oops did I say I like you?" He looks shocked.
"Well yes! Damn right! I like Lee Jieun! I LIKE YOU SO SO MUCH!" He practically shouts catching everyone's attention.
And he starts laughing and gulps more beer. Heejin then starts laughing at her brother even though she is not drunk and the guys follow too.
The awkward tension to them must have subsided but the only who wasn't laughing was Jungkook who sat motionless didn't say anything.
"I know this is not the time place-" hiccup, "but it's the truth. I'm not gonna pressure you." He smiles sweetly throughout his whole tipsy mind.
Time lapsed so slow and excruciating for the both of us. At least he had something to do; drink more beer. I had my hands that grew numb from all fidgeting I had done.
Then Rowoon moves closer to me, his eyes were almost droopy and his cheeks flushed already. "Jieun!" He whispers.
"Jieun I really like you you know." He whispers more gently.
But when he took hold of my chin and placed his lips right on top of mine. And just as his lips rested on mine, it was pulled away rather forcefully.
Yet what happened next was all gruesome to watch. I could feel a figure gracing mine from behind.
Jungkook, who has been fatally quiet and watched everything with nothing to say, has Rowoon by the collar looking drops a hard punch on his jaw.