Chapter 30: Ignoring everything

Sunday had been a blur. Yuna was home all day and she didn't feel like talking to the outside world. What crushed her was when she called Jungkook to tell him she had received a call he had said, Well done.

He didn't say anything else and why would he after how she had treated him? She pushed him away like she always did and expected him to save her when she was in trouble.

She sighed as she caught the bus to take her to school. Luckily, her parents had left without much of a word really and that lifted great stress on her shoulders.

She bit her lip. She had to call Jungkook and ask...no beg for his forgiveness and hoped that their relationship could be saved.

The bus doors opened and she was greeted with excited screams as the children in her class ran to her. A small smile played on her lips as she greeted them.

"Good morning, children."

"Miss Jung! Good morning," they cheered and two of the boys grabbed her hands, pulling her towards the school building.

At least the children were excited to see her. She almost tripped over the stairs as they dragged her excitedly along. She was surprised when they stopped before the classroom; it was cleaner than usual.

She found this weird and turned to the children as they swamped the class from behind her.

"What is happening today?"

They smiled at her and the boys started towards the tables, moving them out of the way and the girls answered, "Today is storytime."

Storytime? She had completely forgotten that Mondays were storytelling time and she was supposed to give them simple questions that they should be able to answer. She had to come up with a new plan but they were so excited about the story.

She looked around the classroom. The walls were covered with last weeks pictures and word building that they had done. In the corner was a small bookshelf, little books filled it and she got an idea.

"I tell you what," she began, " why don't we create our own story with all the word building you learned last week?"

They stared curiously at her, in a way that she noticed they did not understand what she was saying and she explained, "We will make up our own story. Each one of you will start and the next one will add to the story."

She could still see the confusion in their eyes. The only way to explain it was to start by doing. She swallowed a small sigh. This was going to be a fun busy day for her.

*****

Namjoon was waiting at the front door of the Meaty Way. He was worried about Jungkook and the state his mind was in. He wanted to tell him the truth; he was an investor and had been eyeing his restaurant for a while now.

A loud screeching of tires drew his attention to the road. Jungkook came whirling around the corner in a black mustang like the police were on his tail. It was of interest that he couldn't keep the Meaty Way open but he could afford luxury cars.

Nimue pushed from the wall. Namjoon hadn't even seen him standing there. A surprised gasp escaped his lips and Nimue let out a small chuckle.

"Something I have learned," he began softly, "is always to survey your surroundings."

Namjoon gulped. something about Nimue was off-putting, yet he couldn't explain why he got the feeling that this man was not to be trusted. He greeted Jungkook with a firm nod who opened the restaurant.

Jungkook beckoned him to his office. He followed reluctantly as he felt Nimhue's eyes follow him around.

"What is up?" he asked as the door closed behind them.

A sigh escaped Jungkook's lips and his shoulders sagged.

"I have to close down my business."

"Aren't you being too hasty?" asked Namjoon, "I am sure that-"

"Someone is stealing money from me. I fired most of the waitresses-"

"Then it is someone else," interrupted Namjoon, "Have you ever considered that it may be Nimue?"

"He would never do that," said Jungkook through clenched teeth, "He has been working here for years and-"

"I think you should reconsider," replied Namjoon lightly.

"There is nothing to reconsider," Jungkook said in defeat and sat down behind his desk.

He was a failure. He should've listened to his parents when they had told him this. Everything he had done...he did to show Yuna that there was more to life than letting their parents be the puppet masters.

He drove here in his most priced car, the black mustang; to sell it. He had debts to pay and with no customers...He couldn't anything but declare bankruptcy at this stage and he had no hope left.

He and Namjoon sat in silence for a few minutes then he stood up. "We should open up."

Namjoon nodded and followed suit. Namjoon couldn't understand why Jungkook was blind to Nimue. If it hadn't stopped then surely it meant that Nimue had taken the money. Was there something else hidden or did Nimue know something about Jungkook?

He walked past the kitchen where Nimue was humming to himself, taking out pots and pans for the day. It was going to be a waste if there were no customers. Namjoon's eyes narrowed. He had a plan but...it would take a few days, maybe a month to execute.

With new determination, he opened the Meaty way for the day.

*****

Hoseok kept gazing at his watch. He wanted to make sure he would be on time to pick up Yuna for her last interview. The other two girls were here already but they cannot find Jin anywhere to start. He had asked Tae if he had seen him but he only shook his head at him.

He hadn't seen Suga as well. With a frustrated sigh, he decided to leave early and catch up with Namjoon before getting Yuna for her afternoon's 'comeback' interview. He walked out of the building with his cellphone in hand; texting Namjoon.

"Hi, Joonie,

I am coming over to the Meaty Way. I have three hours before picking up Yuna."

He pressed sent and unlocked the car, getting in and drove off towards the Meaty Way. He would leave Jin in Tae and Suga's capable hands. They should be able to sort him out. He had been warned before...

*****

Jin was sitting behind his desk with his fingers intertwined. His thoughts were far from where he was supposed to be and... I cannot take this anymore, he thought and sighed.

Minyu was ruling his thoughts today. The events of yesterday evening were playing fresh in his train of thought. It was spiralling and the steam of the thoughts was relentless. He was struggling to find the sincerity of Minyu's words.

He remembered the day when she ran into his office to tell him what Tae, Suga and Hoseok had said to her. The stress which he had and still do-he fired her. His mind did a three-sixty spin and everything she had done fitted into a messy puzzle.

He was sure he had seen her true colours that day. He sighed and stood up from behind his desk. He should probably get to the interviews. Secretly he wished it was afternoon already. He was eager to see the minx that slapped him.

A small smile played on his lips as he exited his office and made his way to the elevator to go down to the interview room. Tae, Suga and Hoseok may play their games-so he would play one of his own and ignore the two girls.

The elevator doors opened and he stepped out. He was surprised as to how quiet it was around here. He thought that the girls would make noise or...

"I will go and find him," a voice said and closed a door to the left.

"Who do you need to find?" Asked Jin and crossed his arms smirking at Suga.

"I was on my way to drag you from where ever you were hiding from us," replied Suga irritably.

"I was not hiding."

"Oh? Then where were you? We should have started two hours ago?" snapped Suga.

He had been gone for two hours. He had lost a track of time by contemplating everything that had happened. He did not do it intentionally with a small sigh he replied, "I am sorry to have kept you waiting."

It was more of a statement than an apology. He wanted time to move faster. He had seen how these two girls acted and they did not have raw talent. They had training on what to do when and how to do things. He had seen it before but Yuna...

"Let us just get it over with."

Was that irritation he heard in Suga's voice? So they were only doing this to make him suffer. Well then, he would be obliged to bite back then. Why call the girls if they had decided on the latter?

He followed Suga into the interview room and he noticed that the two girls were standing in the corner. When he met their eyes, they started giggling frantically and he had to stop the urge to roll his eyes at them.

"Where have you been?" asked an angry voice.

He averted his gaze and answered Tae, "I had business in my office."

Of course, Tae did not believe him. He could see it in his body language.

"You know we have a schedule to keep," chided Tae, pointing his clipboard in Jin's direction.

Jin said nothing and crossed his arms. He was already in a shitty mood and didn't need Tae to scold him like a schoolboy.

"I know we have a schedule. Like I said - I had business to attend."

Tae opened his mouth to speak but Suga interrupted, "Can we get a move on? We already lost two hours and we -"

"Yes," Tae began and turned towards the two girls, "Amori Jung?"

The girl who had giggled the loudest stepped towards them. Jin's lips thinned as he stared at her. She was wearing a pink frilly kind of dress and her hair is neatly braided. Her make-up was neatly applied with a hint of cherry blossom lip balm that glistened on her lips.

Tae handed both Jin and Amori a script. "You will each read a small paragraph."

Jin took the script reluctantly. He kept his gaze firmly on the girl's face. Her expression was blank with a hint of flush in her cheeks. This is going to be torture, he thought and opened the script on the first page.

Scene 1: The Meeting

A small unknown coffee shop at the end of the street where Luan's CEO company resides. Luan is tired and his phone can not stop ringing. He is looking for an escape and stumbles into the coffee shop.

Luan

(Whispers to himself)

What cheap place is this?

Waitress

(Smiles at him)

Good morning and welcome to the Caffintine

Luan

(Thinks to himself and answers snobbishly)

Caffintine? Is that what this - ( he indicates with his hand around the room) - dump is called?

Jin cringed inwardly. Was this a joke? This sounded so cheesy, no wonder the other companies thought he was a joke to the industry. He ignored the feeling that was building inside of him and recited the lines emotionlessly.

The girl was trying with all her might to attract emotion from him but he ignored her. He was going to make her sweat, she didn't deserve to be back here for a follow-up interview. He inhaled a small breath and -

-"Cut!" bellowed Tae, "Thank you, Amori. You may go."

The girl turned on her heels and left the room with her head hung low. Tae rounded on Jin and said in a hushed voice, "What was that for?"

"What do you mean?" Jin asked innocently.

Tae gritted his teeth as he replied, "You were being a jackass."

"The script is cheesy."

"It is not the right script! We were doing this so that no one could steal it - again," Tae said and sighed.

That made sense. They were trying to protect his business. Why hadn't he thought of something like that? But...he didn't want these girls to get the part, he cleared his throat. "I will do my part, how I wish it."

Tae pinched the bridge of his nose and called the other girl forward. Jin did the same thing with her. He wanted things to move along so that the afternoon could begin and that he would see her again. The girl left crying and Tae was stomping his foot.

"Was that necessary!"

"Yes, call me when she gets here," Jin said and exited the room. He returned to his office and waited for time to move faster. The sooner they could start filming the better.