Internship

Tae: Is he gonna see me today? Ugh, I should've talked to him earlier, but he's been so distant. Why is my head hurting so much?!

NJ: Should we go grab lunch later Tae? Ever since I became his secretary, it's like I'm just here to do all the pointless work. He doesn't even let me into my own office.

Tae: Wait, how do you two even manage to work together?

NJ: Well... At the end of the day, he just dumps all the reports and files on me. I check them, then send them back by email. If something's really important, he'll text me, or have Jimin do it. Pretty efficient, right?

Tae: You're distracting me, hyung! I'm actually scared of him.

NJ: Oh, please, don't worry. You're just an intern. It's not that big a deal.

Jungkook: Hey, Jin-shi. Tae, right? You're one of the interns?

Tae: Yeah, I'm joining the PR department.

Jungkook: Oh really? I'm the head of PR here. Let me show you to the meeting room. 

- Jin-shi, are you coming with us?

Tae: No, no, he's busy. We'll go. 

NJ: Why are you leaving me alone? , He whisper in Tae's ear. 

Tae: If he sees us hanging out together, I'll be on his "hit list too" I'm just trying to survive here, hyung!

NJ: You're just as bad as him, judging everyone so quickly!

Tae: Shall we go, Jungkook-shi? Let's get out of here before he throws a stapler at us.

After an hour in meeting room

Jin walked into the room and froze when he saw Tae sitting there. His heart skipped, but his face remained unreadable. 

He gave his usual, polished welcome speech, introducing NJ as his secretary, Jimin as the head of administration, Jungkook as the head of PR, and briefly mentioning a few other departments. He finished with a curt "All the best, everyone," before turning sharply and heading straight to his office. 

His behavior seemed completely unaffected, but NJ couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Later, NJ entered Jin's office and cleared his throat.

NJ: Jin-shi, can I have a moment?

Jin: Yes, sir. His voice was cool, almost distant.

NJ: I want to talk about Tae.

Jin: What about him?

NJ: You saw him in the meeting room. Why didn't you react? Didn't it surprise you?

Jin: I don't think it's a surprise for you, is it? Since you're the one who approved his internship here... He raised an eyebrow. What was I supposed to do? Every move I make is going to affect you anyway.

NJ: Tae's been really worried. He feels bad for not telling you about his internship earlier. He was hoping if he did well, he might get the chance to work with Korea's teen PR helpline.

Jin: I see. Jin's voice was oddly flat, almost too calm. Since you've got my face, I guess you understand him pretty well by now, huh? He paused, then shook his head slightly. But don't worry about it. I'll handle my own things. Thanks for the concern, though.

Every time NJ tried to bring something up with Jin, it felt like a wall went up between them. Jin always cut the conversation short, keeping a careful distance. It was clear he wasn't ready to share, or maybe he just didn't care to.

 -Time skip to 7 PM-

One by one, the team members packed up and left. Tae and Jungkook were the last two remaining in the office. Tae glanced up at the clock and realized it was almost night. 

He turned to Jungkook.

Tae: You finished?

Jungkook: Almost. You can head home if you're done. No worries. See you tomorrow!

Tae nodded, gathering his things and getting ready to leave. But just as he was about to head out, something made him stop. He remembered Jin.

Tae hesitated before deciding to stop by the CEO's office. He knocked softly and stepped inside.

Inside, Jin and NJ were busy working on something together. Jin let out a quiet sigh, looking up from his paperwork as Tae entered.

Jin: How was your first day? He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. Which department are you in?

Tae: I'm in the PR department... Tae felt a bit guilty and bowed his head slightly. I'm sorry, hyung, I should've told you earlier. I was just waiting for the right time. I know you've had a lot on your plate.

Jin stared at him for a moment, his expression neutral.

Jin: It's fine. He waved his hand dismissively. Just work well, alright? You can go home now.

Tae hesitated for a second, unsure of how to respond. But Jin's tone was final, so he simply nodded.

Jin: It's okay. Work well. Go home first

.Tae: You're not angry with me?

Jin: Am I supposed to be?

Tae: Hyung...

Jin: Go home. I'm fine. At the end of the day, if you're happy and doing well, that's all that matters to me.

Those words hit Tae harder than he expected. Jin, who was always smiling, always cheerful, now felt like a stranger. It wasn't anger or frustration that hurt—no, it was the absence of it. Jin didn't yell. He didn't scold. He didn't create a scene. He simply shut down. And that silence... it killed Tae inside. As they say, silence kills.

Tae walked out of the office, lost in thought, his mind consumed by Jin's words and the empty void left where his usual warmth used to be. Even though Jin wasn't angry, he couldn't help but feel the weight of disappointment hanging in the air.

Absorbed in his thoughts, Tae didn't notice where he was going and collided with someone. He stumbled back and fell to the ground.

He looked up, and to his surprise, it was Jungkook.

Jungkook: Are you okay? Jungkook's face was surprisingly close, and Tae couldn't help but freeze for a moment, lost in the sudden proximity. 

Jungkook quickly backed up, calling his name several times to snap him out of his daze. 

Jungkook : Tae? Tae, are you okay?

Tae: Y-Yeah, I'm okay... He stammered, trying to regain his composure.

Jungkook: I thought you left early? What are you still doing here?

Tae: I went to see Jin hyung...

Jungkook: Ohh, so how are you going back?

Tae: A cab, maybe.

Jungkook: Come on, I'll drop you off.

Tae: Are you sure? I don't want to trouble you

.Jungkook: It's no trouble. I'm happy ride you.

Tae: W-Wait, what? His words started to stutter, and his cheeks flushed a bright pink. You're happy to do what?

Jungkook: I mean, I'm happy to give you a ride. Besides, we're neighbors. It's not a big deal. He smiled playfully, not noticing the way Tae's face turned even redder.

-In Car-

The car hummed softly as Jungkook drove through the quiet streets. The glow from the streetlights outside flickered like a slow dance, casting shadows across the interior. 

The air between Tae and Jungkook was comfortable, but there was an underlying tension—something unspoken.

Tae sat in the passenger seat, glancing out the window, his thoughts still tangled in the conversation with Jin. His mind felt heavy, and he couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment from earlier. 

Jungkook noticed Tae's silence and glanced at him, his expression softening.

Jungkook: Hey, you okay?

Tae blinked, snapping out of his thoughts, and turned to face Jungkook. His heart skipped a beat as he met Jungkook's eyes, those gentle, understanding eyes that always seemed to see straight through him.

Tae: Yeah... just a lot on my mind, I guess.

Jungkook: You know, it's okay to be upset sometimes. You don't always have to hide it.

Tae: I'm not hiding it... just not sure what to do with it.

Jungkook laughed softly, his gaze flickering between the road and Tae, teasing yet tender.

Jungkook: Well, I'm here, if you ever want to talk. Or, y'know, if you want to distract yourself with something else.

Tae glanced at him, eyes wide, surprised at how easily Jungkook said something so casual, yet so comforting. There was a glimmer of something in Jungkook's smile, something that made Tae's heart race a little.

As the car finally pulled up to Tae's apartment, the quiet hum of the engine faded. Jungkook parked, but neither of them moved immediately. The air inside the car was charged, thick with everything they hadn't said yet.

Jungkook: Tae... you sure you're okay?

Tae: I don't know, but... I think I'll be okay now.

Tae opened the door and stepped out, but then he stopped, looking back. 

Jungkook was still sitting there, watching him with a soft expression. He couldn't help but smile to himself before he walked up to his apartment.