It isn't that Kim Namjoon doesn't want their maknae to go on dates and fall in love, in fact as the official leader, it's completely opposite. He can see the way that Jeon Jungkook is happier since getting close to her, and how even the way he smiles is different to how it once was, almost as though he found a deeper sense of affection and joy that no amount of money, fame or friendships could give him.

Even though the younger gentleman was getting a little distracted, especially when it came to practice and being on time for meetings and schedules.

He's glad though, that Jeon Jungkook is enjoying his time as he courts Park Chaeyoung, and he admits it himself that she sounds like a very good woman for him.

Kim Namjoon hasn't spoken to her much outside of formal greetings when they meet backstage and in parties (and Jeon Jungkook refuses to introduce them officially until they're officially dating, in fears that him and the other boys would overwhelm and scare her) but from the stories that he's heard, he know she's a genuine and down to earth girl. In his mind, he always imagined that Jeon Jungkook would settle down for someone sweet and charming, albeit he thought it wouldn't be an idol.

It usually took some level of narcissism to get into the fame that she was at, yet for her, she seemed as sweet as she appeared on the screen.

But it would be a lie to say that he wasn't worried.

Jeon Jungkook was a good man (and he'd like to think that his years nagging at him contributed to it) and hopefully was just as good, if not better, as a boyfriend. However—his life was so busy, so fast paced, and stressful and he worries a lot, that dating someone, especially someone who was just as busy, would have its struggles. Jeon Jungkook too, was a perfectionist, and Kim Namjoon doesn't believe that he'd be able to balance the two.

And he's right.

Kim Namjoon isn't purposely ears dropping, in fact, unlike the other members, he takes pride in the fact that he gives the other boys personal time and space but the last few weeks have been extremely busy, and one of Jeon Jungkook's sasaengs has been non-stop harassing him. In the last month alone, Jeon Jungkook had to change his number over seven times and many of his schedules also got postponed or cancelled due to threats for his safety.

Last night, his apartment was almost broken into and hence, the young man, rather than staying in his apartment (as he does a lot recently ever since getting close with Park Chaeyoung), he is in the dorm.

Jeon Jungkook has a bad habit of answering calls while on speaker phone (a bad habit because as an idol he should be more aware of the possibility of people listening) and with his door slightly opened, Kim Namjoon cannot help but stop in front as he walks back from the kitchen to his room to hear him raising his voice.

"So? What do you think?"

He hears a soft voice who he assumes is Park Chaeyoung, and a part of him is glad to hear that the pair are going well, despite the difficult time.

"Hmmm, its up to you," he mumbles back.

"Were you even listening?" The woman's voice questions, "... you weren't, weren't you? So I just spoke to myself for the last—twenty minutes?"

"Please stop being dramatic you're giving me a headache," he hears Jeon Jungkook retort, "... let's end the call now I'm tired."

Oh no.

"If you're tired then you shouldn't have called me, or stopped me earlier and rested," she tells him.

"Well maybe, I tried but you wouldn't stop talking for the last half an hour!" He snaps.

He hears a gasp on the other side of the room before everything goes silent, and he can only hear the sound of Jeon Jungkook throwing his phone and groaning before he hits his pillows.

Kim Namjooon quickly rushes back to his room, hoping that by morning, things will be sorted.

It was not.

-

Lalisa Manoban likes Jeon Jungkook a lot because if there was one thing that he did right, it was the way he helped made her feel more confident in herself.

But when Park Chaeyoung comes to her room with tears in her eyes, she is just inches away from reaching for a knife and stabbing him. The pair had had it rough ever since his crazy stalker came back from nowhere and she knew it had a strain on their situation-ship, but didn't believe it'll get to the stage where the pair wouldn't speak for days.

"What's wrong?" She asks holding her hands out and hugging the other woman, "... do you want me to kill him for you?"

"Do you think I'm dramatic?" She pulls away and pouts, "... Jungkook said I'm dramatic and gave him a headache and said I was rambling non stop for half an hour... do I talk too much?"

"Oh honey," she lets out a heavy breath, "... you are none of those things, he's just going through a lot right now, he doesn't mean it I promise."

He better not, or else he's dead meat.

But a week pass and the pair still don't speak and Lalisa Manoban takes back everything she said about liking that brat!

-

Jennie and Kai get back together hence the girls find themselves mingling with the other EXO boys in the party. Park Chaeyoung doesn't want to come, especially since she knows he'll be there and they haven't really spoken since that night, but she also doesn't want to make it obvious that something is wrong.

All the idols gather in a circle as they play spin the bottle.

The neck of the bottle reaches her and she chooses truth, feeling like she doesn't have it in her to embarrass herself in front of Jeon Jungkook.

"During your collaboration stage, did you ever develop feelings for Chanyeol?" Park Jihyo questions, knowing well that the pair had some sort of chemistry whenever they met to practice, "... because I swear I felt like a third wheeler sometimes when we were practicing."

Park Chaeyoung does he best to face the floor, the way her hair falling to the side of her face hiding the blush on her cheeks.

She simply nods.

Oh Sehun gasps, playfully slapping Park Chanyeol on the back, "... no way you should've made your move Yeol! You know—he was thinking of asking you out, but he was scared that you weren't interested in him because you didn't want to exchange numbers."

The older man's confession makes Jisoo Kim gasp, "... she's like that with everyone, ahh—such a pity. Maybe there's still a chance."

"We could've went on double dates had we known!" Jennie Kim adds.

Park Chanyeol stops the madness, once all the other idols begin cheering, "... alright, alright that's enough guys."

She's thankful to see that he was able to contain it, noticing the way he gives her a reassuring smile and nod.

Even though she doesn't dare to speak, she can feel a pair of eyes staring from the other side of the circle.

Jeon Jungkook.

-

Jeon Jungkook really hates himself.

He knows he should've apologised, but as the days passes a part of his ego expects for her to be the one to reach out first.

The regret really marinates however when the revelation comes that someone was mutually interested in her.

Someone very tall, good looking and could play the guitar.

He makes a mental note to take lessons as soon as possible!

A part of him feared that at some point, a dare would come where the pair would interact, but he's overly relieved where not once did the bottle reach Park Chanyeol, even though he did have to strip and dance in front of Min Yoongi which if possible, he hoped everyone could unsee.

When the game ends, he quickly rushes to her as she heads out the hallway (probably to the toilet), not caring that others may see.

"Chaeyoung," he holds his hand out to her, stopping her from moving away as she turns.

Just as breathtaking as he remembers, slight curls covering the sides of her cheeks.

"Mhm?" She doesn't speak.

"I'm sorry about the other day," he tells her as he looks around, pointing to one of the rooms, "... can we go inside and talk?"

"Why should we? You obviously don't like it when I'm talking," she whispers, before looking down on her feet.

"It's not like that..."

"That's what you said, Jungkook," she tells him.

Slightly annoyed, he pulls her arm gently into the other room closing it shut.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"I'm sorry, Chaeyoung. I mean it, I said some things that were really rude and I didn't mean it at all," he tells her, "... I'm really sorry."

"You're sorry but you didn't even say it for a week," she informs him, "... and now you're only saying it because you're threatened at the possibility that someone might like me."

Ouch.

"It's not like that," he tells her, "... I was embarrassed."

"As you should be, because you know what? I'm not dramatic, but maybe if you think I am too much—then so—"

"Chaeyoung," he stops her, taking out the small, "... this isn't how I planned to give it to you... I wanted to take you to the beach and pick up some shells first but—here."

Jeon Jungkook reaches out for the YSL heart-shaped cowrie shell necklace that had been with him for the last two weeks, which he originally wanted to give to her when asking her to be his official girlfriend.

She looks at it, "... what's this?"

"I thought you'd like it, when you told me about how I mended your heart that day with the ice cream," he tells her, "... I wanted to give it to you and ask you to be my girlfriend, by the sunset because I know you like it— that's why I contacted you—because the boys knew I had such a big crush on you, but I've been so stressed and stupid... so, I guess I lost my chance and took my frustration out on the wrong people."

Park Chaeyoung looks at him before holding out and taking the necklace, "... put it on me."

"What?"

He wonders if he's hearing things wrong.

"I'm sorry too, for worsening the conflict. I knew you were stressed and I should've given you time and space," she tells him.

"No, it's not your fault," he assures her, "... you were excited about your story and I didn't communicate my feelings and my tiredness well enough."

"It's not too late..." she whispers, holding it out to him, "... if you want to put it on me."

"What do you mean?" He clarifies, wondering whether he was misunderstanding.

"It's not too late to ask me to be your girlfriend."