Idol Next Door

28

The week drew onward and 2019 KBS Song Festival came along, an annual music show that airs on the Korean Broadcasting System at the end of every year. Various groups and artists were there, including TWICE and BTS.

There was an unacknowledged awkward tension that rose between the two groups. It was inevitable for them to meet in the hallways considering that their waiting rooms were near each other. Whenever they coincidentally pass by the other, however, all of them only exchanged brief bows and a few words of greetings from the leaders out of pure courtesy.

Dahyun would only dip her head and look to the ground, purposely avoiding eye contact with any of the BTS members especially Kim Taehyung. The male did the same as well.

After that incident, Taehyung had made a mental note to himself to be extra careful with interactions. It was Dahyun who bore the consequences of his actions that night. Avoiding her was the best way to protect her. But Taehyung couldn't help but stare at the girl whenever TWICE hits the stage, especially when the camera pans on Dahyun in brief moments. She looked dazzling in that white outfit and straight blonde hair. And Taehyung never failed to notice how her smile during interviews didn't reach up to her eyes.

Taehyung walked out of his group's waiting room. Somehow he felt too cooped up inside and it was suffocating. He headed to the venue's common restroom since restrooms weren't provided in their own waiting rooms.

There were two common restrooms at the venue. One was in the east wing and one on the west. The restroom to the east was the most commonly used by idols, so Taehyung headed to the west wing. It was a longer path and the least used but as long as he wouldn't bump into TWICE members along the way, it was fine.

Just as he expected, there weren't many people who rove around the west wing. The corridor was narrow and from what a staff had told him, the restroom cubicles were smaller compared to the ones in the east.

Taehyung was approaching the end of the corridor but halted on his steps as he spotted two figures whom he knew so well standing outside the restroom. From where Taehyung stood, he could clearly see their faces somehow engaging in a conversation and because the hallway was deserted, their voices seemed to echo to the walls a little.

Taehyung couldn't pick up much of their conversation, but they sure looked like they were enjoying. He could see Dahyun laughing sincerely while Jungkook was smiling wide that wrinkles formed on the side of his eyes.

Taehyung looked around the vicinity and was relieved to see that no one witnessed their interaction other than him. Taehyung was apprehensive that Dahyun might get caught in another rumor if someone saw her conversing with Jungkook.

Their conversation drifted to a serious subject, Taehyung could tell with how Jungkook seemed to be speaking sincerely while Dahyun was listening to him with a glint of worry in her eyes.

And the next thing that happened caught Taehyung by surprise: Dahyun hugged Jungkook.

Jungkook was caught off-guard at first but eventually reciprocated her gesture with a pleased face.

And that was the last straw.

Taehyung turned to his heels, heading back to the waiting room overwhelmed with feelings of sadness weighing over him.

Taehyung had never been insecure of Jungkook, until now. What did Jungkook have that he didn't? He was starting to unconsciously compare himself with the maknae.

Taehyung loved Jungkook as a brother but he couldn't ignore that feeling igniting inside him for some reason he wasn't sure of. Maybe Jungkook was one of the factors of her rejection. After all, Dahyun openly liked the maknae. Did Jungkook like her too? The notion irked him more than he thought.

Maybe she didn't feel the same way as him. Maybe that was why she outright rejected him. Maybe he was the only one who hoped after all. Taehyung was fraught.

"Confessing was a bad idea," Taehyung muttered under his breath in distress. Yoongi who was sitting nearby heard it and the younger's exasperated expression didn't go unnoticed.

"No, it wasn't. It's just that you confessed at the wrong time, Taehyung," Yoongi replied, sitting beside him on the couch. "With all that's happening now, Dahyun must've felt so overwhelmed that she burst out on you."

"I couldn't think of any other reason to make her stay."

"Then you should've confessed earlier when you had the chance to."

Taehyung rubbed his temples, shaking his head. "Either way, she'd still refuse."

"Try to put yourself in her shoes. Just give her some time and space, Tae. She might change her mind."

"Stop it. I don't want to get my hopes up anymore, hyung."

The waiting room's door creaked open, gaining their attention. Jungkook walked in casually and waved at the two people on the couch.

"Your pee break took too long," Yoongi said.

"Yeah, I met some friends along the way," Jungkook answered, sitting beside Yoongi. Taehyung wanted to scoff.

Friends, huh? You looked like you were flirting.

"Also, hyung. I met Dahyun." Jungkook drew his upper body forward to lean his arms on his thigh and looked attentively at Taehyung, anticipating his reaction.

Taehyung cocked his head to look at the younger, pretending to be surprised, but his annoyance was still evident, recalling the moment how Dahyun hugged Jungkook.

"How is she?" Yoongi asked. Yoongi had only interacted with the girl a few times but he was genuinely worried for her.

Jungkook smirked, looking at Taehyung and the crimp on either end of the older's brows and his arms crossing over his chest told him that he hit a nerve.

"Well, she told me I'm her favorite member," Jungkook playfully boasted.

Taehyung scoffed, louder than he intended. If he weren't too clouded with jealousy, Taehyung would've picked up that the younger was just playing with him.

Yoongi couldn't help but chuckle. It wasn't every day that you'd get to see Taehyung jealous, especially because of a girl. It was such a rare sight and he was enjoying every bit of it.

Jungkook licked his lips, looking serious now. "You know, hyung, if you wanna win her, you better do it now," the maknae spoke encouragingly.

Taehyung raised a brow, confused with the younger's swift shift of aura and more confused of what he was pertaining to.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung momentarily with a glint of worry in his eyes before adding, "I just heard that she got accepted to that school in America."