Sitting in the lobby of the BigHit building, you’re turning through the pages of a magazine. As you read the words on the glossy pages, you don’t seem to understand anything.. you’re too distracted.

You had left home early to get to work in order to avoid explaining your sudden disappearance from the party to Sunghyun and now that you were at work you were trying hard to avoid Jungkook. Hence, you chose this corner to hide in.

The sofa lowers as someone sits next to you and you feel your heart stop. Turning to face the person you feel a wave of relief wash over you.

“Jin-shi, to what do I owe this pleasure?” you ask the tall man sprawled next to you.

“I have a question-"

“If it’s another one of your dad jokes.. I think I’ll pass,” you smile sweetly.

“Come on! Everyone finds my jokes funny.” he whines

“Everyone? Are you sure eeeeveryone finds them funny? Because every time you so much as open your mouth to speak Yoongi-shi looks like he’d murder you in your sleep.” you say raising an eyebrow.

“Ahhh.. that’s how Yoongi looks at everyone.” Jin smiles at you as if you had just complimented him.

“Hyung!” Jin and you, both look up to see Namjoon approaching you, his chin pushed out in annoyance.

Just as Namjoon comes to stand next to you Jin says, “Oh how silly of me... I almost forgot, PD-Nim wants to see you in his office. Old age is really getting to me.” he squints at you.

“What?! You should’ve told me that first.” you shoot up from your seat and toss the magazine carelessly onto the sofa.

“Y/N, you might want to hurry up.” the look of worry on Namjoon’s face makes you nervous which helps you move faster.

You raise your hand ready to knock on the door when a voice calls out from the other side of the door, “Come in.”

As you push open the door the first thing you register is Bang Shihyuk’s expression which is a mix of annoyance, anger and worry.

What have I done now?

You try to recall any mishaps on your part in the past few days.

Coming late to work? Not finishing work on time?

You gulp and feel the nervousness churning in your belly intensify. But the minute your attention is attracted by the occupant of a chair in the room you feel your blood boil as the events of last night play in your mind.

Jungkook doesn’t look at you but is facing the plain white wall ahead as if admiring a painting at a museum.

Suddenly you hear sobbing and sniffling, which cuts your trip down memory lane short. Turning to your right, for the first time since entering the room, you notice a lady seated in another chair her face hidden behind a white handkerchief. Her shoulders shake in an unnatural manner as she sobs.

“What’s happening?” you ask unable to contain your curiosity.

“Y/N, please have a seat.” Bang Shihyuk indicates to the only other vacant chair in the room which is next to Jungkook.

As you sit next to him hesitantly, he shifts in his seat uncomfortably which manages to enrage you.

“This lady over here-“

“He harassed me!” the lady speaks up in a voice that is too clear for someone who had been crying. When you look at her face you’re surprised to find no traces of tears.

“How much money do you want to keep that filthy mouth of yours shut??” Jungkook spits out through gritted teeth, looking at her. She puts on a barely convincing look of hurt at his words. “That’s why you’re here, aren’t you? For the money?”

“H-how could yo-you accuse me of s-such a thing?” she hides she face behind her dry handkerchief again and the sobs continue.

“Would you mind telling me when all this happened?” you ask trying hard to ignore Jungkook’s muttered curses.

“La-last night.” she stutters before dissolving into tears again. “I was at a bar when he approached me. He was very clearly drunk. When I refused to oblige to his request to go with him he resorted to harass me.

“You’re lying..” the words leave you lips before you know it.

Bang Shihyuk shoots a questionable look your way and for the first time that day Jungkook looks at you. When your eyes meet his bloodshot ones it takes a lot to not gape at his ragged appearance.

“What do you mean by that?” the lady looks at you a tinge on worry underlining her voice.

“Jungkook was with me last night.. I-I mean.. yes, he did go to a bar. He called me because he claimed to be too drunk to.. to drive, so I picked him up and drove him home. From what I clearly remember he was alone when I picked him up.” you feel your throat begin to tighten.

“Um.. I.. that’s a lie.” the lady accuses you.

“That’s enough!” Bang Shihyuk bellows and you find yourself looking at the floor even though you did nothing wrong. “Jungkook.. Y/N.. please leave the room.”

“But…” you hear Jungkook’s voice speak.

“Jungkook, I said leave.” If someone spoke to you in that tone you won’t think twice before bolting out of the room but Jungkook sits as still as a statue. With great reluctance you place your hand over his. You’re surprised when he lets you drag him out of the room.

But the minute the door closes behind you, he shakes your grip off and walks fast trying to put as much distance between the two of you as possible.

“Jungkook! Wait!” You have to jog to keep up with his long strides, especially because he makes no effort at all to slow down.

Having reached him you place a hand on his shoulder to turn him around.

The minute he faces you he bellows, “You didn’t have to defend me in there. I didn’t need your help.”

How is he the one who’s mad after all that happened yesterday??

“Oh yeah? Because you were doing PREETTYY well on your own, right?” Your sardonic tone does nothing but worsen the situation.

“Yeah! I was doing alright on my own, until you walked in!”

“You were willing to throw money at her for no apparent reason! And do you really think that after you stuffed her mouth with money she wouldn’t go around spreading rumours?”

“It’s none of your business what happens to me.” Jungkook’s breathing hard as if he’d been running.

You feel a stab of pain in your heart at his words but decide to ignore it.

“It sort of is, isn’t it? Since you made me your manager?”

Why are you so convinced that he's innocent? How are you to know what happened in that bar?

Despite the questions that echo in your mind you know in your heart that Jungkook hadn't done anything wrong.

He couldn't have right?

“Just stay away from me, okay?” his words are like a slap across your face.

With that said he turns on his heels and begins walking away.

“Why didn’t you defend yourself when you knew she was lying?” you shout after him. For a moment he stops in his tracks but then continues walking away from you.

As the shouting match ends between you two, you begin to realise all the attention you’d attracted as pairs of eyes follow you.

*******

When Jungkook's called in to PD-nim's room he grows anxious.

He walks into the familiar room and notices a woman seated, immediately. As he comes to stand close enough to see his face he holds his breath.

He recognises the woman almost instantly.

Pretty boy...

She had drawled into his ear making him feel sick.

He looks at her with terror seizing his heart. The same straight blond hair. High cheeks bones. Artificially small nose. Wicked set of her eyebrows.

He knew he was in trouble.

"You'll regret this." She had said.