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He is the picture of perfection.
The beautiful boy sits at the front of the room, perched on a bar stool that accentuates his long legs. Dark, jet-black hair just about covers his ears, a shimmery curtain falling over his forehead, stopping just before tantalizing, dark eyes. The suit he wears is crisp, perfectly tailored to his body, a boutonniere of a trio roses the only splash of color against the stark, classic black suit. But there's something even more perfect about this picture, and it's the beautiful, deep voice that reverberates from the beautiful boy's soul. He leans forward, long, elegant fingers curled around the microphone as he croons a Josh Groban song that Jungkook loves.
Ah, yes. Ever the hopeless romantic, Jungkook has been drawn to the wedding singer the moment he'd been introduced, and sat himself down on the stool. The wedding singer with the dreamy eyes and the even dreamier voice-
"Jungkook, you're staring."
Jungkook immediately rips his gaze away from the stage, and concentrates on his mashed potatoes. "'M not staring," he mumbles, speaking more to his food than at his best friends. He pushes his food around with his fork, forming some sad replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, trying to tone out his friends' snickers as the wedding singer reaches the second verse, the lilt in his voice making Jungkook want to throw himself at his feet. Jungkook looks up and glares at his friends, an accusing glint in his gaze. "Come on, guys - he's a performer. We're supposed to pay attention," he stresses.
Jimin giggles, and places a hand on one of Jungkook's shoulders. "Oh, Kookie, we are paying attention. You're just... completely zeroed in on him, not paying attention to us." Jimin gestures towards the rest of the table, which comprises of Yoongi, Jimin's boyfriend, and Jung Hoseok, another one of Jungkook's best friends, and a choreographer Jungkook works with regularly.
"To be fair," Hoseok says with a wolfish grin, "The wedding singer is definitely Jungkook's type. Gorgeous, tall, a sinful voice? Cha-ching!" Hoseok makes imaginary check marks in the air with an index finger, and Jimin bursts out into more peals of laughter.
Jungkook pouts, now morphing his mashed potatoes into what he thinks should be a cat. "Stop teasing." It's a plea that's only half-meant; Jungkook doesn't mind their teasing, not really. Besides, he knows that they all want the best for him, which is fine, but he'd hate to have their laughter interrupt the wedding singer's performance.
"Maybe you should introduce yourself when he's done with his set." The suggestion comes from Yoongi, but Jungkook's already shaking his head before the older can finish the sentence.
"Oh god. Oh no. A guy like that? He's probably either taken, or wouldn't be interested in a bean like me." Jungkook continues to shake his head. "Come on, just let me be content with staring at him from afar. That's all I need. I'll get over it, I really will." Meanwhile, on-stage, the wedding singer tilts his head back, exposing his beautiful neck as he hits a high note. Jungkook woefully stares at him, wondering why the world is so cruel. "I'll get over it." The repetition is more for his benefit, and his friends sigh.
Jimin has a knowing smile on his face, one that Jungkook is immediately suspicious of. "Well, Kookie, what if I were to tell you that-"
Jungkook never gets to hear the end of Jimin's sentence, and promptly forgets about it as the couple of the night approaches their table, arms wrapped tightly around each other. "Mister and Mister Kim!" Hoseok hoots, getting up to his feet to give them both a hug.
The youngest member of the group can't help but beam at the couple - Seokjin and Namjoon have been dating for as long as he's known them. Through all their years of friendship, Jungkook has heard two sides of arguments, been through the stress and awkwardness of fights that drew on too long, and had passed on one too many messages when one wasn't speaking to the other. But despite this, Jungkook has also been taught to believe in true love. He remembers all the soft smiles, the tender way Namjoon reaches for Seokjin's hand as if he would be lost without him, and the looks that Seokjin sends Namjoon's way when he thinks he isn't looking. Most of all, Jungkook remembers the night that Namjoon proposes, half of the heartfelt speech that Namjoon had so thoughtfully penned out thrown out the window as he says, "God, Seokjin. I love you. Please be mine. Now and forever?"
"And what's this we heard about Jungkook needing to get over someone?" Seokjin chimes in, wiggling his eyebrows at Jungkook.
Jungkook groans, rolling his eyes. "None of your business."
Seokjin huffs, reaching over to ruffle Jungkook's hair, ignoring the protesting squawk. "Show some respect for your hyungs, the happily married ones at that," Seokjin chides. "Come on baby, you can tell me anything."
"He has a crush on the wedding singer," Jimin says in a sing-song voice, the traitor. Jungkook glares at his best friend, who merely smiles slyly at him over his glass of wine.
Namjoon actually 'aww's', the dork, and Seokjin claps a hand over his mouth, and actually cranes his neck to check out the wedding singer. "Ooh, he is exactly Jungkookie's type!"
"That's what I said!" Hoseok points out triumphantly, as if this solves everything.
Jungkook wants to make like an ostrich and bury his head into the ground. "Please," Jungkook says, flashing a flat smile in their direction. "Make your voices louder, I'm not sure if he heard you."
"He's taking requests, you know." Yoongi, who suddenly has all of his friends' attention, shrugs. "He's been doing it all night."
As if proving a point, a waiter walks up to the wedding singer as he finishes up a song. "Ah! I love this song. Okay, the next song I'll be singing is dedicated to Choi Ji-Ah! Your wife wants you to know that she loves you very much." And then before he starts to sing, the piano behind him starting to tinkle to life, he does something that makes Jungkook want to fling himself off a cliff.
He smiles.
"Ohhh, boy." Namjoon comments, patting Jungkook's back as the latter stares blankly at the wall. "That's it. You're done. Finished." Jimin can't help the giggles that are bubbling out of his mouth, and Jungkook buries his head into his arms, pushing his plate of food to the side.
"Aww, it's been so long since I've seen Kookie crush on someone so bad," Jimin says affectionately, joining Namjoon in the 'Jungkook Back-Pats'. "Hey, Kookie, if you want, I could actually-"
Jungkook suddenly lifts his head off the table, startling all of them. There's a determined look on his face, a set to his chin that makes all of them pause. I should do this. I'm not going to let this moment pass me by. No one ever got what they wanted while they played with mashed potatoes at their best friend's wedding. "Get me a waiter."
"Oh my god," Seokjin exclaims, as he waves over a waiter. "Oh my god, it's happening! Everyone, it's happening!"
"Before I lose my nerve," Jungkook mutters, reaching for piece of paper that the waiter offers towards him. Yoongi rolls a pen across the table towards Jungkook, and the younger male starts penning in his request. Jungkook had initially thought that it would be hard to think of one song that would be perfect for this situation, but he finds that the song comes to him as easily as his own name does - as if one of his favorite songs has just been waiting to shine. The dedication comes surprisingly easy, too, and Jungkook only hesitates for a moment before opening his heart.
"Whacha gonna do?" Jimin asks, trying to see what he's writing. "Gonna dedicate a song to your best friends, maybe, and use this as a conversation starter with him later?" Jimin gasps, a thought coming to him. "Oh - what if you actually dedicate a song to him?"
Jungkook covers the paper as he writes down his request, away from Jimin's prying eyes. "Wouldn't you like to know," he says underneath his breath.
"You're no fun," Jimin whines, as Hoseok starts to laugh.
"Oh!" Seokjin exclaims, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "Or he could dedicate to someone else, maybe some random person at our wedding, and make Taehyung jealous!"
The mention of a name makes Jungkook pause. "Taehyung?" He tries the name out on his tongue. He likes it.
"Uh, yeah," Seokjin nods. "You think we'd hire someone to perform at our wedding and not know their name? Jungkookie, I can give you his socials, his business email, whatever."
"Actually, I could-"
Jimin is once again interrupted as Jungkook finishes writing down his song request, and brandishes it towards the waiter with a flourish, folding the paper twice. The rest of the table cheers at Jungkook's decision, and the waiter moves to take the request away. Jungkook balks, and starts to stand up in his chair. "No, wait! I changed my mind!" He yelps, and Seokjin shakes his head, wagging a finger in his direction.
"Ah-ah-ah, Kookie," Seokjin tuts. "That was a touch move - no take-backsies!"
Jungkook sits back down, the blood rushing to his head. Oh my god. I just did that. Holy shit. He stares blankly at the plate of food, oblivious to the rest of the world. He barely registers Jimin's single-armed hug and the soft words of gentle reassurance, and instead focuses on the sudden waves of anxiety that are threatening to drown him. I shouldn't have done that, I don't even know if he likes guys, I shouldn't have made any kind of indication-
"Jungkook, you better start tuning back in now," Yoongi says in a low voice. "Because your dream guy's just about to finish a song, and I think yours was next." Luckily, Seokjin's loud squeal is enough to cover up the nervous squeak that rips from Jungkook's throat. "You're lucky it's your wedding day, otherwise I'd be telling you to shush," Yoongi says underneath his breath, but there's no underlying venom in his voice. Seokjin swats at Yoongi, who smiles up at him.
On stage, Taehyung clears his throat, smiling politely at the applause he's getting from his rendition of Perfect by Ed Sheeran. "You've all been so kind," he says, bowing his head slightly. "I have time for two more songs probably, and then I'll be taking my break-" The crowd starts to complain, and Taehyung laughs. "I'll be back for another set though! Gotta fill my stomach up somehow. Now..." The waiter approached Taehyung, holding out the folded paper that Jungkook had scrawled on.
"When I die of embarrassment," Jungkook says to Jimin, who's the only one close enough to hear him. "I would like to be cremated - please spread my ashes at the dance studio and at the hyung's homes, so I can haunt all of you from the afterlife."
"Ah! Oh, wow," Taehyung says excitedly, reading the first part of Jungkook's message. "This is a request for Lost Stars - I really love this song, guys, you have no idea." His eyes trail down to the end of the message, reading Jungkook's dedication, and the group waits with baited breath.
What did Jungkook write?
"Alright, that's it, I'm going to go throw up now, bye-" Jungkook makes a move to stand up, only to have both Jimin and Hoseok pin him to his seat.
"Don't you dare," Hoseok hisses, looking too excited for his own good.
"Oh." Taehyung's face turns a pleasant pink, and he looks at the paper once more, the disbelief written all over his face. A nervous laugh bubbles up his throat, and he looks up at the crowd, searching. "This... this is for me."
Five pairs of eyes zero in on Jungkook, and he squirms uncomfortably in his seat. "Oh my god," Jimin says, eyes sparkling. "I didn't think you'd actually dedicate it to him-"
"Read it!" A random person near the front of the crowd yells, and the rest of the audience follows suit. Jungkook's best friends are easily the loudest cries, and Jungkook wants to die of embarrassment.
Taehyung turns even pinker, and laughs uncertainly. "I wasn't going to, but if you all insist..." A rousing cheer rises up from the audience, and Taehyung looks back at the paper, still looking unsure if this is a joke or not. "Ah - so - the dedication goes... Please sing 'Lost Stars' - because maybe the beautiful wedding singer with the beautiful voice can help me find the stars that I seem to have lost."
The room cheers loudly, as if Jungkook has penned out what every audience member wants to say to Taehyung. Seokjin's suddenly shaking him vigorously, squealing. "Kookieeee! Oh my god that was so smooth, so beautiful! So sweet of you!"
Jimin looks like he's on the verge of tears even as he's propelling himself into Jungkook's lap - they all know that Jungkook's never been the lucky one when it came to love. He's always been the supportive friend, never the one to go to them about his own life, and his friends have always wanted Jungkook to start giving his love to people outside of his small friend group. The dedication is beautiful, yes, for Jimin, this is Jungkook starting to open his heart, and starting to realize that he is just as deserving of love as everyone else.
Jungkook's so busy trying to fend off his overbearing friends that he doesn't notice Taehyung's eyes briefly pass over their table, staring just a second too long at the young man who looks like he's being attacked by the grooms and their friends.
(*)
It's much later in the evening now, and Jungkook sits alone at the bar, a tall glass of lemon-lime soda sitting in front of him. The reception's still going on, but Taehyung took his break not long after singing 'Lost Stars' (He absolutely crushed it, by the way - Adam Levine better not challenge Taehyung to a voice off) , and a DJ has taken his place, turning the center of the room to a dance floor. Jimin's currently dancing with a slightly inebriated Yoongi on the floor, and Hoseok's somewhere around; Jungkook was sure he saw Hoseok talking to a gorgeous man who was all leg about fifteen minutes ago. Namjoon and Seokjin are off doing groom duties - it's their wedding after all, and it would be foolish to assume that the newly wed couple can hang out with their friends the whole night.
Jungkook's in the middle of taking a long sip of soda when someone pulls out the bar stool next to him and sits down. "I'll have what he's having."
The younger male immediately spits out his soda, some of it dribbling down his chin, the rest of it spraying across the counter. The bartender looks sympathetic as he passes a wad of paper towels to Jungkook, who immediately tries to wipe his face before the person next to him can-
"Are you okay?" Taehyung leans forward, a bit too close for Jungkook's liking (not close enough) and he flinches, still in shock that Taehyung was actually next to him, talking to him, looking at him with those beautiful eyes-
"Uhm."
Taehyung waits expectantly for Jungkook to speak, and when words fail Jungkook, the wedding singer chuckles, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a small smile. "Very articulate, I see."
"I'm fine!" Jungkook blurts out, covering the lower half of his face with a paper towel. In all honesty, all the soda's off his face now, but it doesn't hurt to hide the rest of his ruby red face from Taehyung. "Oh god. Hi. Sorry."
"Hi." Taehyung smiles, and brings up a hand to tuck a lock of his dark hair behind his ear. Jungkook gulps. Why does everything he do have to be so... beautiful? "I'm glad you're alright. I was afraid you coughed up a lung, or some other vital organ." The half-smile is still on Taehyung's face, and Jungkook wants nothing more than to disintegrate into a million pieces.
"Nope!" Jungkook lets out a nervous laugh. "Got my heart, my kidneys, my liver, and both my lungs! Pretty sure I'm good."
"Perfect." Taehyung leans forward, both of his elbows perched on the edge of the bar while he waits for his soda. "Especially since I really hope that the person who wrote me that beautiful dedication doesn't die on me."
Jungkook's suddenly glad that he didn't take another gulp of soda, especially since that last comment almost definitely would have made him cough out a lung. And maybe a kidney.
Luckily, the bartender saves him, and appears with a glass of soda. "If you want anything stronger, just let me know. He's been nursing that soda the whole night."
Bemused, Taehyung glances at Jungkook as he takes a sip of Sprite. "Designated driver?"
Jungkook nods. "I drew the short straw earlier. Eh, doesn't matter. It's the least I can do for my hyungs," he says, momentarily forgetting his nerves as he glances at the dance floor. Jimin and Yoongi are near the middle of the room, their foreheads touching. Hoseok's nowhere in sight.
"You're very sweet." Jungkook looks up in surprise. Taehyung's smiling at him, dark eyes glittering with fondness. "What? It's true." Jungkook flushes, and scratches the back of his neck. Suddenly, Taehyung reaches out a hand, offering to shake. "I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Taehyung."
Jungkook subtly wipes his hand on a napkin before grasping Taehyung's hand in his own. "Jungkook. Nice to meet you." He's starting to get a hold of himself again, and he steels himself. All he has to do is remain calm until Taehyung walks away. That's fine. Right? This is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask for, right? "I..." Alright, he already knows, so screw it. "I meant it, you know. You have a beautiful voice." Jungkook bows his head bashfully, unable to look Taehyung directly in the eyes. "And you're - ah - you really are beautiful."
Oh. Taehyung blinks in surprise. The compliment sounds so genuine, so wholesome coming from the younger male, and he can't help the rush of emotions that course through his body. "Thank you. I really appreciate it. Your dedication made my night. It really did, I promise," he hurriedly adds, seeing the disbelief in Jungkook's eyes.
"Well, then... I'm glad that I made an impression on you." He smiles shyly, unsure where this is going. Something suddenly hits him, and Jungkook wonders... "Wait. If you don't mind me asking... how did you know it was me?"
Taehyung smiles, and turns his bar stool around to look at the dance floor. "We have a mutual friend. Let's just say that he, ah, nudged me in the right direction." As if on cue, Jimin takes a peek at the both of them, and cheerfully waves at them once he realizes that their attention is on him. Jungkook stares, dumbfounded, as Taehyung continues his explanation. "Jimin's the one who suggested my services when the hyungs were looking for a wedding singer. I've known Jimin since I was a kid."
All of the times that Jimin started a sentence, only to get interrupted by some force of nature, suddenly flash through Jungkook's head. I am a complete idiot. "So you're telling me that if I had just taken five seconds to let Jimin finish a sentence, I could have just met you... I don't know, a normal way?"
Taehyung chuckles. "Well, yes... but between you and me, I'm really glad you requested Lost Stars." The wedding singer winks at Jungkook, and reaches out to poke the tip of Jungkook's nose. "Cutie."
Jungkook opens his mouth to reply, but before he can, the DJ lowers the volume on the current song, and announces that it's the last song before 'the wedding singer returns'. "Oh. That was sooner than I expected." Taehyung looks almost disappointed, and Jungkook wonders if it's because of him - if Taehyung wants to spend more time with him.
And it's that thought that makes Jungkook hope that maybe, just maybe, he's reading the room right, and his next question is completely warranted. "Can I ask for your number?" he blurts out, and consequently turns a fiery shade of red at how forward he's being. "Uhm, maybe sometime tomorrow, or whenever you want, really - we could get coffee? Or dinner? Or something?"
Suddenly, there it is, so blinding, so beautiful, and Jungkook wonders if there's such a thing as love at first sight as Taehyung smiles widely at him. "I was hoping you would ask," Taehyung says coyly, waiting expectantly for Jungkook to take his phone out.
Jungkook nods jerkily, his hand going to his pocket - until he remembers that his phone is somewhere deep within the depths of Min Yoongi's many pockets. His hyung wanted to borrow his phone earlier, wanting to Shazam a song that was unfamiliar to him. "Oh - my phone, it's..." he glances at Yoongi on the dance floor. "It's with hyung," he says lamely, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh, how about I enter my number in your phone?"
"How about we do this," Taehyung says quickly, and reaches out to pull the pen that's sticking out of Jungkook's chest pocket (the very pen he used to write that request). He scoots his bar stool closer towards Jungkook, and looks inquisitively up at him, asking him something with his eyes that Jungkook isn't sure he can understand. Jungkook nods nevertheless, still unsure what he just agreed to, and then Taehyung reaches for his hand, gently grasping Jungkook's left hand in his own, palm facing up towards them.
Taehyung's lips screw into a pout (a cute pout) as he scribbles digits onto Jungkook's palm - not big enough to be incredibly obnoxious, but not tiny enough to mistake the numbers either. "There!" Taehyung says happily, letting go of Jungkook's hand. "My number. Freely given. Free of charge." Taehyung winks at him, and Jungkook tries not to think about the fact that his hand felt so perfect in his.
"I could have just grabbed my phone..." Jungkook says weakly, chewing on his lower lip.
"And where would the fun in that be?" Taehyung asks, making a face. "Besides," he smiles tentatively at him. "I've always wanted to do that. Much more romantic, you know?" The DJ starts telling people to head back to their seats, saying that the wedding singer's about to make his return. "And that's my cue," Taehyung says sadly, a small smile on his face. "I don't know about you, Jungkook, but I really hope you-" Jungkook suddenly reaches for Taehyung's hand, and grasps it gently in his own.
Taehyung closes his mouth, and stares at Jungkook. Jungkook smiles, and locks eyes with Taehyung as he lifts his hand to his lips, gently brushing his lips against Taehyung's knuckles. "There," Jungkook says softly, a blush crawling up his neck. "I think that was more romantic than me just letting you leave."
(*)
"I believe in love again," Jimin says dreamily, looking happily at Jungkook as the latter enters Taehyung's number into his phone. Jungkook merely grins in response as he names his new contact 'Taehyung :]'.
"I'm glad you believe in love again, jagiya," Yoongi says dryly, smirking when Jimin playfully slaps his chest. The four friends have reunited at their table, Yoongi a lot more drunk, Jimin a grinning mess, and Hoseok with a noticeable red mark underneath his jaw. Taehyung's already back on stage, in the middle of his first song, and Jungkook's on Cloud Nine. "I'm glad it all worked out with Taehyung, Jungkook."
"Me too," Jungkook beams. "I mean - we still have to go out, but... I have a good feeling about this. I can't wait to get to know more about him." He stares at his phone screen again, still in disbelief that Taehyung had actually sought him out during his dinner break. Speaking of which... "Jiminie-"
Jimin holds up his hands in mock surrender. "In my defense, Koo, I would not have just let this night slide by without introducing the two of you. If you hadn't taken the initiative, I would have eventually just knocked your heads together. I'm glad you two met successfully without much of my interference."
The rest of the night passes by, Jungkook stealing glances every once in a while at the angel on stage. Jimin dedicates Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud to Yoongi, and while Yoongi moans and groans about how sappy Jimin is being, all of them pretend not to notice as Yoongi wipes a tear out of the corner of his eye. And then, just before Jungkook asks his hyungs if they should leave soon, Taehyung clears his throat to make an announcement.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for my last song of the night."
"We can wait for his last song, Kookie," Jimin says coyly, Hoseok and Yoongi nodding in agreement. Jungkook makes a face, but turns to look at Taehyung, wondering what his last song is going to be, and is surprised to see that Taehyung's meeting his gaze from across the room.
"Before I leave, I'd like to dedicate my last song to someone who said he wanted help finding the stars that he lost. I guess you could say I found out who he is, and hopefully I don't let him down." Taehyung smiles, winking at Jungkook. Jimin hoots, grabbing Jungkook around the shoulders - and well, now the rest of the people attending the wedding reception now know for sure who Taehyung's talking about. "Well, I'd like to dedicate a song of my own to him - the beautiful boy with all the stars in his eyes." Taehyung opens his mouth to sing, his gaze never leaving Jungkook's.
The rest of the room melts away, and to Jungkook, it's just the two of them, Taehyung serenading him with a song Jungkook hasn't heard in a long time. Jungkook continues to listen, Taehyung's voice taking a life of its own as he sings of new beginnings and first chances, of uncertain certainty. The room they're in is dark, but as Taehyung continues to sing, it becomes brighter, as if slowly becoming illuminated by stars. Taehyung gives him the stars, and Jungkook takes them, hanging them in his soul, hoping from the pits of his soul that they stay.
He has a feeling that they will.
Taehyung smiles, the song coming to an end, and Jungkook smiles back at him, already looking forward to tomorrow.
City of stars, are you shining just for me? City of stars... you never shined so brightly.