Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Kim Seok Jin
"Hyung, don't forget my coke!"
"Noted,"
Seokjin was in a band called 'J.AY', that he worked hard getting into. Although he's the oldest of the group, he wasn't the lead vocalist. Instead, he was in charge of the lead guitar which he leaned to play since young and some harmonies to back up the main singer. Trust me, Seokjin adores his members but after sometime living with them, they're more like kids, not adults and Seokjin finds that quite disturbing because he wanted peace and quiet relaxation but he gets two boys running around the dorm competing who's-the-loudest-while-running title.
After debut and some years after, Seokjin gained knowledge about his environment. He now realized that the company was being biased, favoring the young lead singer more than two backups just because of popularity. It doesn't mean Seokjin and Jimin weren't popular but Jungkook had his own several fanclubs.
Words hurt the most out of Seokjin and even though he tries to block the haters away, their words were stuck in his brain wherever he goes.
'He had plastic surgery. It's obvious.'
'That kid got in just because of his looks.'
'I bet he can't do anything except for playing the guitar and some poor girls' hearts.'
Seokjin scoffed at these rumors because they were just that; rumors. Seokjin never had plastic surgery. In fact, he refused to do it when the PD told him that he should get a nose job. He threatened the PD to terminate his contract because he didn't want to be fake and apparently, puberty did their job too well because Seokjin looks like a princess sent from heaven above.
Except playing the guitar, Seokjin knew how to play piano and he can cook fairly well. He learned a little bit of martial arts and he was the top of his class in both middle school and high school.
But words led to Seokjin putting up a facade to the public. He became wary of every little thing he did on camera and soon that cold guy demeanor became his personality. He noticed how people talked less shit about him. In other words, the caring mother that Jungkook and Jimin knew was replaced by a silent, charismatic hyung.
A few months later after his change in image, the younger ones decided to break their hyung's facade. It didn't take long for Seokjin to agree to be himself in the dorm after being bribed with his favorite Mario figurines ( also because he cares about his members ). Seokjin realizes that it wasn't their fault that the public chose to like them more and they were indeed lovable.
--
The small bell of the convenience store chimed from Seokjin's push and he would be lying if wasn't shocked by the interior of the store. It was messy, period. Ashes from who-knows-what were on the floor and Seokjin could smell the alcohol seeping through his mask.
This is supposed to be convenient?
He scanned around the store once and found out a figure who was currently picking up the cereal boxes from the floor and shelfing them properly. He decided to move on and find some snacks for the current road trip to Daegu for a fansign. He grabbed all the junk food they need, not before checking the expired date of course. He almost forgot Jungkook's soft drink so he dashed behind the figure but what he didn't expect was for the figure to abruptly stand up which made Seokjin fall flat on his butt, food packets splattered everywhere. Seokjin winces from the sharp pain he felt on his buttock but he still stood up with pride. The latter refused to acknowledge Seokjin's presence though, as he swiftly dust of his teared-jeans and walk away to the counter.
'Rude' was the first word that came up to Seokjin's mind as he dust away and start collecting his things from the floor. The bell rang again, signalling another customer. Seokjin looked up out of reflex and saw a woman in her late 30's marching up to the cigarette section. She had various jewelry around her neck and wrists to boast but Jin knows that they're pretty fake. I mean, how is gold THAT yellow?
Seokjin lifted his mask a little up to his nose and dashed off to the secrete place where they have the drinks. He carefully chose the drinks while keeping an eye out if anyone found out his identity. The said woman picked out a package of slow death and dropped it on the counter. Seokjin didn't mean to eavesdrop or pry on them but when he looked up to see if the woman had left, he discovered the male that bumped into him without saying sorry. His thin sweater was ripped and from Seokjin's guess, it wasn't a design. His dirty brown bangs covered most of his eyes and what Seokjin noticed the most was how he looks cold and disinterested. He moved his eyesight to the lady and Seokjin wanted to kill himself for being a witness to a crime.
--
The boy had a bit of confusion in his face as the woman took off her ring that she was wearing and her wallet on the counter and she rushed off to get a beer can. The male was almost finish fishing out the change when the said woman asked for the lighter. He dropped down with a groan to find one and then the bad deed was witnessed. The woman ticked her ring with precision as it landed to the cash register. The boy stood up, oblivious to what had happened, as he handed the change and the lighter. The woman was about to leave and that's when the act started. She screamed and turned around to face the young man who only had one of his brows lifted in confusion. She accused him for theft and that's when the boy had a slight bit of emotion on his face. Soon, the manager came out and everything was a loud mess. Lots of swear words were shooted at the innocent part-time worker and apologies were repeated from the owner.
"I'm taking out of your salary to pay this lovely woman, Kim Taehyung,"
So that's his name.
"No," the one word sent shivers to Seokjin's spine. It was a soft growl but the weight and anger it carried was threatening.
"This lovely lady is kind enough not to put your sorry ass in jail,"
"Sorry?"
Seokjin noticed it came out as a scoff not an apology.
--
That's when the owner had enough. She waited for the con woman to leave and winged her hand to slap the young man. The force made him face the other way and he was practically shooting lasers at her. The woman took another swing and that's when Seokjin reached his limit.
"Ah-hem,"
Both heads turned to his way and they reacted polar opposites. The owner repeated a mantra of apologies to Seokjin for witnessing her "scolding" towards her worker and dashed to what it seems like a storage space. The boy known as Kim Taehyung went back to the counter after just raising a single brow when he met Seokjin's eyes.
Seokjin, although curious, went staight in front of the counter and dropped his things to pay. He glanced up to Taehyung while he scan the barcode as lazily as possible and Seokjin would definitely be lying if he said the young boy wasn't attractive. He had these dark brown doe eyes that Seokjin was attracted to and this prominent high nose. Seokjin wouldn't admit but the guy in front of him right now would be a close winner in terms of looks betweem them two.
"Why didn't you tell the truth?" Seokjin muffled his words through the mask. He hoped the younger didn't hear his thoughts that slipped. I mean, he wouldn't want the word 'nosy' to be another word to describe his image.
His tiny hopes were shattered when the person behind the counter replied with a 'Do you think they would believe it?'
Something inside if Seokjin's cold demeanor melted and he doesn't know if its the fact that it was the longest he heard the younger talked or the fact that this kid has lots of depressing problems. Usually, Seokjin would let it slide and end the conversation here but there's this part of his conscience that wants to push on.
"Y-You could at least try"
Seokjin, himself, didn't know why he stuttered and he's killing himself mentally that he actually showed some emotions in the public. He's upset that no one actually noticed the beauty of Kim Seokjin's face but at this moment he's thankful. He still sounded like a cold ass so it's still okay.
"Look, dude. You live your life while I'll live mine. I don't need pity over this stupid scene but I also don't want to piss you off because you might be a ninja and as much as my life sucks right now, I don't want to die leaving Taerin alone in that stupid apartment but seriously hotshot, its summer and who the fuck wears a mask in this weather? If you have a cold or something get out with your things, here".
It's an understatement to say that Seokjin was confused. He was fucking bewildered over lots of things in just a minute. He understood like fifty percent of what Taehyung was talking about and most of it were insults thrown at him. And that's how Seokjin waddled towards his van, ignoring the questions that the manager was throwing at him for his tardiness, with just the thought of 'who the fuck talks that much in just a few seconds'.
First impressions can surely be way off.