The audition room at Tatamic Production felt like a refrigerator.
Jung Hoseok sat at the judging desk with a giant stack of profiles and a warm smile.
Jeon Jungkook sat next to him wearing a black bucket hat, an oversized denim jacket, and a scowl cold enough to freeze water instantly.
For two straight hours, candidates had walked through the door. And for two straight hours, Jungkook had rejected every single one of them in less than ten seconds.
"Candidate Number 14!" Hoseok called out, checking his paper.
A handsome model walked in, struck a dramatic pose, and gave a smoldering look.
Jungkook didn't even look up from his phone. "Hair is too shiny. Next."
"Candidate Number 15!"
A young actor stepped forward and began dramatically weeping to show his emotional acting range.
Jungkook blinked once. "Too loud. I have a headache. Next."
"Candidate Number 16!"
A cheerful trainee did a sudden cartwheel and landed in a split.
Jungkook rubbed his temples. "This is a music video, not the Olympics. Next."
Hoseok threw his pen onto the table and turned to Jungkook, his voice rising an octave. "Jungkook-ah! You have said 'no' to twenty people! Twenty! Some of them were actual famous actors!"
"They don't fit the vibe, hyung," Jungkook said flatly, taking a sip of his iced Americano. "They are trying too hard. I need someone natural. Someone who doesn't make me want to walk out of the room."
"You are being impossible!" Hoseok groaned, slapping his forehead. "If we don't pick someone today, CEO Kim is going to choose for us!"
Before Jungkook could reply, the door creaked open.
Candidate Number 21 stepped inside.
He was a tiny, cute boy wearing a soft, oversized cream hoodie, baggy jeans, and a dark blue baseball cap pulled down extremely low over his eyes. He was fidgeting with the oversized sleeves of his hoodie, looking like a lost kitten.
Hoseok instantly softened, giving a warm, encouraging smile. "Hello there! Welcome! Please, remove your cap and state your name and profile."
"A-Ah... yes! Hello!" a high-pitched, adorable voice stuttered.
The boy raised two nervous hands and slowly pulled off his baseball cap, shaking out his fluffy brown hair.
The moment his face was revealed, the entire room seemed to brighten up. He had huge, sparkling brown eyes, long eyelashes, a tiny cute nose, and soft pink lips.
Hoseok’s jaw literally dropped. "Oh... wow."
Jungkook, who had been staring blankly at his coffee cup, slowly raised his head.
His dark eyes locked onto the boy's face. For the first time all day, Jungkook froze. His chest did a strange, sudden thump.
He's... breathtaking, Jungkook thought, his throat suddenly feeling dry.
It was Taehyung.
Of course, Taehyung hadn't told anyone he was the CEO's son. He had snuck into the building using a guest pass, completely determined to win the role fair and square!
"My name is... Kim Taehyung!" Taehyung stammered, his cheeks flushing a bright, fiery red.
Up close, seeing his absolute idol, his hero, his dream man sitting right in front of him in real life was way too much for Taehyung's brain to handle. His knees felt like jelly.
"Great name, Taehyung-ssi!" Hoseok smiled widely, nudging Jungkook with his elbow. "Alright, let's do a simple acting test. Imagine Jungkook is standing in front of you, and you have to deliver a romantic line to him. Go!"
Taehyung stared directly into Jungkook's intense dark eyes.
Jungkook stared back, his expression unreadable, waiting to hear what the cute boy would say.
Taehyung took a deep breath. His brain short-circuited completely.
Instead of reading a line from the script, Taehyung pointed a trembling finger right at Jungkook and yelled at the top of his lungs:
"YOU ARE MY FUTURE HUSBAND AND WE ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED IN PARIS!"
Dead silence filled the room.
A pen slipped out of Hoseok’s hand and rolled onto the floor.
The two staff members filming in the corner stood completely stunned, their eyes wide.
Jungkook sat frozen, his iced coffee cup halfway to his mouth. He blinked once. Then twice.
Taehyung immediately slapped both hands over his own mouth, his eyes wide with utter terror. OH NO! his brain screamed. I SAID IT OUT LOUD!
Jungkook’s eyebrows twitched. His cold posture instantly returned as he cleared his throat loudly.
"No," Jungkook said flatly.
Taehyung’s jaw dropped. He quickly pulled his hands away from his mouth. "W-What?! What do you mean, no?!"
"I mean no," Jungkook repeated, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at him coldly. "You are clearly a crazy fan who snuck into the company. Audition failed. Next."
"I AM NOT A CRAZY FAN!" Taehyung whined loudly, stomping his foot on the floor. "I am a serious artist! And I am extremely cute!"
"You just shouted about getting married in Paris," Jungkook pointed out, narrowing his eyes.
"Because it's a vision! A prediction!" Taehyung argued, pouting his lips so far out he looked like a angry duck. He leaned over the judges' table, staring right into Jungkook's face. "Can I at least get into round two?! Please?!"
"There is no round two," Jungkook snapped. "Leave before I call security."
Taehyung puffed out his cheeks, glaring at Jungkook with absolute fury.
"You are so mean!" Taehyung huffed, snatching his baseball cap off the desk. "You are cold! You are a bunny-faced bully! I am leaving, but this isn't over, Jeon Jungkook!"
Taehyung turned around on his heel, slammed his cap back onto his head, and stomped out of the room, slamming the door so hard the glass rattled.
BANG!
Inside the room, Hoseok slowly turned his head toward Jungkook.
"Jungkook..." Hoseok whispered in disbelief. "He was the prettiest person who walked through that door all day! Why did you reject him?!"
Jungkook stared at the closed door. His heart was still beating weirdly fast inside his chest.
"He's dangerous," Jungkook muttered, picking up his coffee cup with a slightly shaky hand. "And he's completely insane."
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