#thirty five

TeleGib....

Pairing: In-Studio Director!Jungkook x Stage Director!Fem Reader

Genre: rivals au, social media au, frenemies to lovers, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, crack.

Rating: 18+

Warnings: explicit language, mentions of abandonment, alcohol consumption, harmless scheming, dare, bet, smut

Summary: It has always been the battle of the best between you and your college rival, Jungkook. What happens when years later, you cross paths again working for the same network broadcasting company, and the competitive flame is rekindled? Well, a whole new drunken bet that determines your futures wasn’t in your line of vision but here you are… and you have until 35.

SERIES TAGLIST: @fragmentof-indifference @babyboo22 @dionysusenthusiast @luaspersona @timelessruins @royallyjjk @sandraviolante-blog @quarter-life-crisis2 @jub-jub @pb-n-juju @jeonxgoogiee @sugaluvmyg @lookformyvoice @fairy-jaykay @juju-227592 @such-a-wh0re @hoseoksluv89 @exhibitachol @kleirielk @era-genius @hyuneyeon @jjkw-7

PERMANENT TAGLIST: @jinsquishes @persphonesorchid @thatbangtanjagiya @taestefully-in-luv @pamzn @wrmnssoul @ygbubs @halesandy @jayhope88 @bnagtanx1306 @pinkseokchim @busanbby-jjk @babycandy111

•••

You hate Jungkook. You hate him with every ounce of your being. You’re still fuming as you dumped a whole pot of miyeokguk down the food disposal, ignoring your boyfriend’s protests.

“YN, what— I— why did you throw it out? It’s not that bad, I swear, it—“

“It’s not THAT bad?!” You scoffed. You couldn’t hold back your outburst. You were exhausted. You’ve been working on a new project with Hoseok and have not been getting enough sleep. You’ve been trying to keep up with the workload since your bestfriend Byul, Jimin’s wife, has just given birth and would be on a month-long maternity leave.

Jungkook has been staying over a lot, especially on the weekends, and has been quite helpful with keeping your head above water, occasionally lending a hand on your ongoing projects too. It’s been three months since you officially became a couple, and considering how fresh your relationship is, you should still be at the honeymoon phase— disgustingly sweet and inseparable. But nope… not today. Today, he’s the most annoying person in the universe.

You heard about Byul’s good news through Jimin the night before when he asked you for a small and sweet favour: “Can you make miyeokguk for Byul? It’s just that our parents' flights got cancelled because of the storm, and I couldn’t leave her alone at the hospital.”

He didn’t need to ask twice. You sprung into action early the next morning to run to your local groceries to pick-up the ingredients. All you needed were dried seaweed and beef,and the rest were available in your pantry. Easy-peasy! The only problem is that you’re not quite talented when it comes to the kitchen. Whatever, it’s only seaweed soup, what could go wrong? Well apparently, something major could go wrong as solidified by Jungkook’s reaction.

“No, it’s just that, you must have missed some steps… did you– did you soak the seaweed first before you add it to the pot?” Jungkook asked. He had been in the kitchen with you, working on his computer on the kitchen island, but he couldn’t recall the exact steps or recipe that you followed… if you even followed one, that is.

“Soak? No, babe, I stir-fried it directly along with the meat and aromatics… then I added the water. Do I need to soak them?” You sagged your shoulders and started walking to the refrigerator to take out more ingredients. “Now I gotta start all over again,” you muttered under your breath.

“Okay, I know it’s seaweed, but it’s a little bit on the saltier side. The kosher salt is in the other cupboard,” Jungkook opened the cupboard adjacent to the stove. “Did you use the pink–”

“Yes, I used the himalayan salt!” You slammed the chopping board and the knife on the counter, clearly having zero idea that the fancy pink salt you grabbed from the grocery store, thinking it’s cute, is a lot saltier and sharper than the regular kosher salt. “God! What do you want, Jungkook!? You’re so annoying!”

Jungkook’s eyes widened in surprise at your outburst. “Me?” He just stood there, staring at you, tonguing the silver hoop on his lip.

“You know what, forget it…” You huffed. “I’m gonna go rest for a bit, we’ll figure something out by lunch time.”

•••

•••

Jimin and Byul have created a small and beautiful baby boy, face smooshed by his little fists, and plump lips – taken after his father – formed into a natural pout. His eyes were open, blinking as if he could make out his surroundings. Whatever ounce of annoyance you were feeling earlier about the seaweed soup incident has completely diminished when you laid your eyes on the newborn baby.

“He’s beautiful…” You cooed. “Can he see me?” You tried making faces at the little one, earning a laugh from the couple.

“He can’t see yet, YN,” Jimin replied. “But the doctors said he can hear us, so you might as well talk to him and get him used to your voice.”

Your eyes lit up at the new information and immediately crouched down closer, your face inches away from the baby. “Hi, pumpkin…” You started in your softest voice. “I’m your godmother.”

“Where’s Jungkook?” Byul asked.

“Oh, he went to the Nurses Station to ask about your meal plan and if it’s okay for you to have the miyeokguk for lunch,” you smiled. “Um, I’m sor–”

Your words were cut off when Jungkook entered the room, aided by one of the nurses. His hands were occupied by a tray of food– the steaming hot bowl of miyeokguk, thanks to the portable thermos you brought, some biscuits and a selection of cut-up fruits. “Lunch is ready, Mrs. Park!” Your boyfriend beamed at Byul before handing over the tray to Jimin.

“Oh god, that smells heavenly! I’m salivating,” Byul commented. “I didn’t know I was starving til I got a good whiff of the food.”

Jimin carefully spooned the soup, letting it sit on the spoon for a while until cool enough, and started feeding his wife.

“Oh my god,” Byul suddenly started welling up. “Oh god, you guys…”

Jimin was quick to wipe the tears on the corner of his wife’s eyes. “Why? Is it too hot?”

“Oh no, is it bad?” Your eyes met Jungkook’s and he assured you with a simple nod.

“No, are you kidding me? This soup is so good. It makes me miss my mom.” Byul sniffed. “Thank you so much for making me this soup, YN…”

“Oh no, Byul, actually I–”

“YN woke up real early to make that,” Jungkook wrapped his arm around you and gave your shoulder a telling squeeze. “Good, right?”

“I didn’t want Jimin to ask you to make this ‘cause I know you’re busy, but thank you so much, hun…” Byul looked at you, eyes still damp with traces of tears.

You smiled warmly back at her before searching for Jungkook’s eyes. You found him already looking at you, and at that moment you decided to step closer and leaned over his side. What would you do without him?

•••

Jungkook climbed up on the driver’s seat after securing the lunchbox and some of the couple's laundry, which you offered to take, in the backseat of the car. You’re already seated, buckled up in the passenger’s seat, playing on an invisible fluff on your jeans. Jungkook studied your face for a while before leaning in to plant a soft kiss on your cheek. "You alright?" You nodded without looking up, a hint of embarrassment apparent on your features.

“I'm sorry for being an ass earlier,” you pulled your lips into a straight line before meeting his eyes. He chuckled, nose scrunching up in amusement. "I'm serious."

"I know, I know..." He straightened up in his seat and began starting the ignition, “You buckled up?” You hummed.

"Thank you for making the soup for Byul," you said softly.

Jungkook glanced at you before taking your hand in his, intertwining your fingers, and bringing it to his lips. He didn't say a word after resting your clasped hands on his thigh and just focused on the drive home, occasionally glancing your way.

It's the kind of quiet that you both like. The kind of quiet that allows you to be left alone with your own thoughts, and still be at ease with the fact that the other is close by. It's the kind of quiet that tells you more than words could ever say - maturity, security, respect, and love. They're all there, hanging in the air between you. You realize that you're no longer two naive college students trying to outsmart each other while suppressing the fluttering of the butterflies in your stomachs when the other is near. You’re two wise-beyond-their-years adults now, and there may be countless words in the dictionary, but nothing could ever describe how much you’ve grown to love each other more.

•••

The birds are great