-

Park Jimin never thought he'd see the day where the maknae of the group fell in love, but alas, he's proven wrong.

From as long as he's known the young man, Jeon Jungkook has always been quite shy and reserved with it came to women, not necessarily because he feared them as some suggest, but because he simply didn't care much for it. Jeon Jungkook worked hard, and his focus has always been music and his fans so outside of admiration for some of his senior female artists, there's never been much more.

Until her.

Park Jimin began feeling suspicious when Jeon Jungkook started locking his door in the dorm which wasn't necessarily wrong, but unlike him. Jeon Jungkook was someone who needed to be physically awoken because he'd sleep through an earthquake if one was to occur and suddenly, he was being secretive. At first, he thought that maybe he needed a little privacy as part of growing up, but after a few times of walking past his room he would hear random noises—sometimes a chuckle, sometimes tapping against his best in excitement and even once or twice a few "aws." At first, Park Jimin believed that Jeon Jungkook was probably busy watching anime and didn't want anyone knowing, but could he at least open his door when he's finished because from that period on, he was always late for practice and schedules!

Jeon Jungkook however is caught, after leaving his phone unattended in the practice room when he goes out to use the bathroom. Jung Hoseok takes it and opens the camera to help record but accidentally opens the Naver application instead (to this day, no one knows how that's physically possible) which leads to the exposure of his research search history.

Rose Blackpink Birthday

Park Chaeyoung Blackpink Ideal Type

Boombayah Blackpink

Rose Blackpink Collaboration Stage

Park Chaeyoung Height

It was since then, that the teasing started.

And the Bangtang Boys were not known for being subtle.

They'd always request Blackpink songs to be played while they were getting ready for a performance, and would play it in the car whenever he was around.

But they were also painfully obvious in front of her too, such as the times where they'd keep nudging and giggling when they'd notice the pair in the same vicinity, whether it be behind backstage or in passing in events and parties. But even so, almost six months had passed and Jeon Jungkook had not made a move.

In fact, Park Jimin doesn't know if the pair have even exchanged numbers.

He doesn't blame him though, given that Park Chaeyoung was barely ever left alone.

Usually, she'd have three people guarding her like a bodyguard, or she'll be sandwich right in between the other girl groups of the country.

She was popular indeed.

"For how long will you just stare at her for?" Park Jimin nudges him, noticing the way the younger man is smiling softly as he looks at her from afar, this time they're at a party for Im Nayeon's birthday and she's busy talking to the birthday girl.

Jeon Jungkook gasps before looking around, frowning, "... hyung, someone might hear."

Park Jimin rolls his eyes.

Clearly, everyone in the entire room could see that he was smitten with her.

Just then, Park Chaeyoung excuses herself to get another plate of food and Park Jimin takes it as his chance to save his friend.

"Go talk to her," he hits the side of his elbow against his, "... make a move loverboy."

Jeon Jungkook pouts, shaking his head, "... I'm too nervous."

Oh God, his maknae really does need help...

Park Jimin sighs before heading towards her direction, turning around and eye-ing for him to follow.

"Chaeyoung-ssi," he calls out, a slight smile on his face as he bows to her, "... are you getting more food?"

Jeon Jungkook watches as her face flushes slightly at the comment, almost similar to the colour of her pink lips as she nods, "... hi Jimin-ssi and Jungkook-ssi, are you guys enjoying the party? The food's really good, I asked Nayeon for the catering details."

Park Jimin wants to stab his friend as the silence permeates the vibe and just as she was about to excuse herself, he steps on Jeon Jungkook's foot, encouraging him to speak.

Only, he doesn't expect his friend to be so... obvious.

"Chaeyoung-ssi, can I have your phone number?" He blurts out, face turning completely tomato red as realisation finally dawns on him on what he was saying.

She is obviously taken aback by the gesture by the way her eyes widen in horror.

"I'm thankful b-but I'm sorry I'm not allowed to have male contacts on my phone, Jungkook-ssi."

Jeon Jungkook believes that he can die in embarrassment right there and then, and for the next week, he spends his time moping around in the dorm.

Park Jimin believes that he really needs some help indeed.

-

Jeon Jungkook's potential redemption arc comes a few weeks later, when Kim Taehyung tells him that he's meeting her group-mate, Jisoo Kim for dinner to discuss some of their upcoming mc-ing tasks together. According to him, she was planning on bringing Park Chaeyoung, and asked to bring one of the other boys to make it more fun between four rather than three. The others cheered him on to come but Park Jimin rolls his eyes, "... are you guys sure he's the right candidate he'll probably make a fool of himself."

While they all agree, they decide to send him.

Hopefully as the start of a love story, rather than a comedy or tragedy.

Jeon Jungkook can't hold his disappointment when the two men walk into the private dining space to see only Kim Jisoo at the table, and she must've noticed because she smiles with a supressed laugh.

"She's in the bathroom, Jungkook-ssi," he comments before bowing to the two men, "... we already ordered in advance, hopefully that's okay? Chaeyoung was hungry."

Jeon Jungkook's face turns red in horror, realising that his crush on her was too obvious.

"Oh, so you know then?" Kim Taehyung proudly asks, "... that Jungkook has a crush on Chaeyoung?"

Jeon Jungkook believes he can die when he hears the sound of her voice by the door.

"I—I'm guessing I came back at the wrong time?" She inquires.

For the entire dinner, Park Chaeyoung sat diagonal from one another and not once did she look his way, even when he was passing the dish to her.

Not that he dared too.

At the end of the dinner, Jisoo Kim gets a call. Apparently, alongside Kim Taehyung, she was needed for another rehearsal.

"We can take the same car then," Kim Taehyung suggests, "... how about you Chaeyoung? Can your manager pick you up?"

She nods, "... you guys can go, I'll be fine! Jungkook-ssi is here too."

Jisoo Kim gives an apologetic look to her friend before dismissing herself.

The pair sit awkwardly in silence before she finally speaks up.

"Jungkook-ssi, you can go first. You don't need to wait for me," she tells him, realising that her manager wasn't answering her texts, "... I can wait alone."

"It's okay, I don't have schedule anyway," he shrugs his shoulders, "... is your manager on the way?"

Like clockwork, the notification comes up.

"Oh," she mutters under her breath.

"What's wrong?"

"My manager is on the way but—there's heavy rain, there's a lot of traffic on the way here, but it's quite clear on the road back so they'll try to find a driver nearby for me—"

"Let me take you back," he offers.

"Oh, no of course not it'll trouble you too much," she protests, "... it's really okay."

"It's hard to find a driver last minute in this weather anyway, Chaeyoung-ssi."

Reluctantly, she agrees.

That evening, as he drove her home, her stomach rumbled out loud at the traffic light.

He chuckles as she bows her head slightly embarrassed.

"Are you hungry?" He asks her, mentally trying to think of places to go that were nearby that they could probably get something to eat.

"That is so embarrassing, I'm so sorry..." she mutters under her breath, "... I thought the portions would be bigger, had I known I wouldn't have ordered just one."

"I know a good place nearby, they specialise in rose pasta," he informs her, remembering the way he'd kept trying to find Italian places that served the dish after watching a few videos of her interviews.

"I love that dish!" She smiles in excitement, "... are you sure it's not too troubling?"

While to be frank, the second dinner is filled with awkward silences, Jeon Jungkook takes the win.

By the end of the night as he drops her off, she turns to him.

"Get inside safely, Chaeyoung-ssi," he tells her.

"Chaeyoung, you can just call me Chaeyoung," she tells him, "... thank you for taking me home, and for dinner."

"Then call me Jungkook too."

When he gets home, neither of the other boys are spared from his fawning over the way they shared rose pasta together !! And how she lets him call her name without formalities !!

Park Jimin thinks it's a miracle, especially considering how only a few hours earlier, Kim Taehyung had reported about his unintentional confession in front of her and how they both weren't looking at each other.

Perhaps miracles exist.