Chapter 108 - Earplugs

Inside of a private karaoke room, the five of them were seated. A big screen was fitted to the wall opposite to the couches, and the room was coloured in shades of black and blue. 

Standing in front of the television was Taehee currently whilst her hand tightly held on to a microphone, and a smile sat on her face, mirroring her excitement.

Jaehyun remained impassive as always, and Hyunbin's eyes held an arrogant expression. Interest played on Chaewon's face, and Jinhee wore a slight smile.

"Konnichiwa minna!" Taehee exclaimed in Japanese.

Then, in Korean, she continued, "For the competition today, all of us will sing, and in the end, everyone will vote for whom they liked the most. The first place will have to treat others to dinner whilst the loser has to do a special dare," Taehee spoke out, adding a 'V' sign at the end.

Although Jinhee was not extremely good or a professional at singing, she was a fangirl for most part of her life and therefore, had sung lots of time in private. So, even if she can not secure the first place, she is confident that she won't be the last.

"Since Jaehyun here is a professional, it would be only fair if the songs were in Japanese and harder for him. Any objections, Jaehyunnie?" Taehee spoke out.

"Yes," Jaehyun voiced out.

"Will that be too difficult for you, Jaehyunnie?" Taehee smirked.

"Stop with calling me 'Jaehyunnie'," Jaehyun said, "And about that, I have no problem."

The smile on Taehee's face did not fade and got wider. She, then, exclaimed, "Let's do it then! Everyone, hwaiting!"

"Who will go first?" Chaewon questioned.

"Going with Jaehyun in the beginning will intimidate the other participants, so let's go with the worst one here to make everyone feel confident," Taehee stated.

"Min Hyunbin, come here."

Realising that he has been dubbed as the worst singer, a scowl, directed at Taehee, formed on his face, and arrogantly, walking towards Taehee, Hyunbin looked straight at her eyes. 

It seemed that Taehee is taller than Hyunbin. With her height of 5'7, Taehee was more or less taller than most boys of her age.

"What did you just call me?" Hyunbin clutched onto Taehee's shirt's collar.

"Prove my words wrong if you can." Taehee arched her eyebrows whilst wearing a smile.

"I'll beat you and make you eat the dirt, you lamppost!" Hyunbin exclaimed.

"Is that so? I haven't ever tasted dirt; I'm looking forward to my first time."

Removing Hyunbin's hand from her collar, Taehee opened up his fist and placed the microphone inside it. Closing Hyunbin's fingers around the microphone, Taehee raised his thumbnail for version as he was up at Hyunbin before walking back to the couch.

°°°

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Hyunbin started singing.

Instead of his voice sounding cutesy— like it should be for this song— it sounded gruff and awkward. 

Biting into the inner part of her mouth, Jinhee stopped herself from laughing. Taehee, on the other hand, did not stop herself from letting out a chuckle. 

"Try to sound more girly!" Taehee commented— her face displaying the amusement she currently felt. 

Although Hyunbin glared at Taehee, he followed her words and increased his pitch, trying to imitate those girl groups his mother usually saw.

"That love I had given you!" Hyunbin exclaimed in a shrilly tone, and Jinhee had to immediate hold her ears tightly.

"Can you give that back to me!? Oh yeah! Can you? That selfish you—"

"Stop!" Jinhee yelled out, causing for Hyunbin to pause with his singing.

By now, Taehee had fallen to the ground whilst tears formed at the corners of his eyes due to how much he was laughing. Chaewon closed both of her ears with her hands whilst Jaehyun just sighed.

Jinhee's ear would literally bleed if she had to hear his singing voice one more time. Horrible would be an understatement to describe his singing voice!

"What do you want now, you old lady!?" Hyunbin questioned, looking irritated. Taehee's and Chaewon's behaviour worsened his mood.

"Let me get some earplugs first, and then, you can continue to sing. Alright?" Jinhee smiled.