Jungkook left the bathroom and headed back to the private dining room. 

"of course! I should have known he wouldn't come." He heard a woman sigh as he passed by another room. The door was ajar and he couldn't help but look in when he passed by. There was something sad or like the speaker had given up on life.

Aerin pressed her head onto the hard table and pressed and pressed her forehead against the wood until it hurt. Then she turned her face, so her cheek rested comfortably and closed her eyes. But the blasted tears still found their way out and trailed miserably down her face. 

Omo! Jungkook covered his mouth with a hand, it was Song Aerin. It definitely was...he looked closer, she seemed out of it...was she asleep? 

"Yah Jungkook!" Jin had come out of the dining room, "The beef's here. Pali or it will be finished." 

Jungkook hesitated, was it really alright to leave her like this. This was a top actress, the nation's goddess. The Queen of cinema. What if something happened to her. The world was full of psychos. 

"Pali..." Jin marched forward, "What are you doing?" 

"Upso." Jungkook closed the door with a snap. He didn't think it was right for anyone to see her like that and all through the rest of their team dinner, he thought about the worst that could happen until he couldn't take it anymore. 

"Ah that was such a good dinner." Jimin rubbed his stomach, "I'm going home to sleep." 

"Yeah sure." Yoongi scoffed and waved. Everyone said their goodbyes and headed home but Jungkook waited till everyone was gone before he went back inside and up to the private dining rooms. The door was still closed, he took a breath and slowly opened the door a crack, Aerin was in exactly the same position. Thank GOD! 

He went inside and closed the door behind him, "Noona..." he knelt beside her, "Noona are you here with anyone?" he reached out a hand, then pulled it back. No, in this situation it was alright to touch her. He lightly shook her, "Noona...it's late and..." 

Aerin lifted her head, why was her head so heavy, "Ow..." she smacked the side of her head and then the side of his face, "You came back hah!" 

Was she referring to him? Maybe she'd seen him before? 

She leaned forward. Jungkook's arm shot out to stop her falling face-first on the table. Ae-rin dropped back, he let her fall against his chest and kept her there. "Noona, do you have someone I can call?" he didn't know who she hung out with. He didn't want to just guess and then he put her in a compromising situation. 

What are you even doing Jeon Jungkook. This has nothing to do with you. If you're found like this...he looked down and then couldn't look away. She just had to be the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Up close she was just...where did one even start to look? Her long black hair caressed her face and cascaded down her back, her heart-shaped face was delicate, but for the strong jawline, her eyes were big, her lips were full and her nose slender and dainty. She had aristocratic features, the type you didn't want to look away from. It was why she was called regal and a queen. Most likely to marry a President of a company they said. 

Aerin smiled as she pressed her face into the warmth of his jersey, "Warm..." she mumbled and breathed in contentedly. Jungkook smiled. Maybe they could stay like this for a while. Maybe noona would wake up after she sobered up? 

No - No...that wasn't right either. He had to get out of this situation and quick. Any minute now a waiter might come in to check and then there'd be a scandal.

"Noona...let's get you up okay?" he lifted her into a sitting position, "Okay. This is good. Where is your phone?" 

Aerin was blurry eyed, "Phone?" she slapped the phone against his chest, "Call the ajumma." 

"Ajumma?" Jungkook used her thumb to unlock the phone and scrolled the contacts, there really is someone called Ajumma here. Was it her mother? Aunt? He called. "Alright noona. I called someone. They are coming to fetch you. We will just wait." 

"Mmm." Aerin snuggled into his jacket, searching for the warmth of the jersey again. 

"Are you alwas like this?" he wondered aloud. It really didn't suit her public image. She was always so stern, so prim and proper and completely unapproachable. 

"Omo!" the door opened, "You crazy woman." Park Shin-hye blew out an exasperated breath, "I was at a gathering." she complained and marched inside and grabbed Aerin like she was a ragdoll, "Thank you." she bowed at Jungkook, "I am sorry for the trouble. Thank you for taking care of her." she bowed again but didn't really meet his eyes. He had a feeling it was on purpose. Maybe she thought he was just a staff member. 

Jungkook jumped up, "I'll help..." Aerin looked like she'd fall at any moment. 

Shin-hye stopped and peered at him and her eyes grew larger, ", you're that kid..." she snapped her fingers as she tried to remember where she'd seen him before, "BTS right?" she looked worried. "About this...please understand that it was just a gathering and I'm sure everyone left first and I was supposed to join after my gathering but I took too long..." 

Jungkook knew she was lying to cover up for the situation. He was a little shocked himself that the ajumma from noona's contact list was the Park Shin-hye of all people. Another famous actress and one of his favourite too. So the actresses were friends for real? That was pretty cool. 

"It's alright noona..." he bowed to show he respected her, "We are all in this together. I won't be the one spreading any rumours."

Shin-hye smiled, "You're so sweet." she turned her attention back to Aerin, "But we're fine right?" 

Aerin hugged her, "Unnie." 

"She'll be fine," Shin-hye smiled apologetically at Jungkook, "Uh, you can let go now..." she looked down at where Jungkook still had an arm around Aerin's waist, "Say thank you to the nice boy," she ordered her friend. 

Ae-rin turned and punched Jungkook on the shoulder, "thank you." she peered up at him through narrow eyes that could barely stay open, "Omo, such nice skin." she squeezed his cheek and didn't let go. 

"Alright, it's a crime to touch children." Shin-hye joked and pulled Aerin out the room. And they were gone. Jungkook stood there, a little shaken, a little thrilled. He touched his cheek, "ow."