“Wow, I didn’t think I could be more jealous of you than I already was.” You roommates say when you tell her you’re going to L.A. with BTS.

 

“I’m technically there for work” You reply, while packing your clothes. You had a hard time deciding what to bring. You hadn’t been back to the U.S. since you left for college in Korea. Since your parents moved back to China, there was no need to visit the U.S. anymore, well, until now.

 

“Work my ” Your roommate jokes. “You’re going to have a blast with the boys. Just enjoy yourself and stop being so negative.”

 

You sigh. “I’m being realistic” You reply, stuffing a hoodie into your suitcase. “I’m there to translate for their dance lessons and whenever they need help getting around the city.”

 

“Can’t they just have RapMon do that?” Your roommate asks, giving you a questioning look.

 

“That’s what I said!” You reply. “But apparently he needs to focus on composing songs with some famous western composers, so he won’t have that much time.”

 

“Well, better prepare for the long plane ride.” Your roommate says handing you a facemask. “Air on the plane is dry,” She says before walking out of the room.

 

You look down at the Innisfree facemask and casually put it in your carryon.

 

 

…

 

 

“Jimin!”

 

“JaaaayHOPE!!!”

 

“Jungkook-ah, stay safe!”

 

“Min Yoongi!”

 

“Taehyung-oppa, come back soon!”

 

“Jin-umma, take care of the kids!!!”

 

“RapMon-sshi, write many good songs ”

 

You walk with the staff as you enter Incheon International Airport with the 7 BTS members a couple feet ahead. The fans had gathered at the airport to send the boys off and wish them a safe trip.

 

On the plane you sat across from Jungkook, Jimin, and Taehyung. Jimin and Taehyung were attempting to practice English with JHope, but they ended up just fooling around before RapMon came over and told Jimin he still had no jams. Jungkook looked really tired, so you notice that he was beginning to drift in and out of sleep not long after the plane took off.

 

Around mid-fight, most of the boys were sleeping, listening to music, or watching movies. You look at the still sleeping Jungkook and smile at how cute he looked, even when he was completely knocked out like that. His head was tilted down, and his bottom lip was in a slight pout. His lips looked so soft, and his skin so tender. Just as you were wondering if he was dreaming about something, his eyes slowly flutter open.

 

You quickly look away and pretend that you’re focused on looking out the window.

 

 

 

…

 

 

 

Stepping out of LAX you were hit with a familiar feeling of nostalgia. The sun was shinning brightly and the air was fresh. You had been to this place several times, because every time you traveled to Asia, you would have a layover in L.A.

 

The staff had chosen a nice hotel near the center of the city, and you were assigned to stay in one of the rooms with the other female staff members. The BTS members were staying in rooms across the hall.

 

“Noona, have you been to L.A.?” Jimin asks as you and the members were going out to grab lunch.

 

“I’ve been a few times, but I’m far from being an L.A. expert” You reply.

 

“Guys, let’s go to the beach today!” JHope says excitedly.

 

“No can do, Hobi.” RapMon says from the front seat of the van. “We got dance practice this afternoon.”

 

“We just got here!” Jin says incredulously.

 

“Manager says we need to get the serious business done, and then we have the last two days to do whatever we want.” RapMon explains. “Oh and Jungkook is meeting some special dance teachers in Koreatown.”

 

“Just me?” Jungkook asks.

 

RapMon nods. “It’s the same crew you spent a month with, remember? Back then when you lacked emotion in your moves.”

 

“Oh, Park sungbaenim and his students!” Jungkook says, remembering the dance academy that he attended a few years ago.

 

“Yup, manager still isn’t completely satisfied in your dance, so he thought it would be beneficial if you went back there to practice” RapMon continues to explain.

 

 

…

 

 

After you all had a delicious meal, you were preparing to split up and go to your respective places.

 

“Why don’t you go with Jungkook?” RapMon says as he notices you follow him and the rest of the members minus Jungkook.

 

You look at him confused as to why he would suggest that.

 

He smiles. “I can handle the English in this group,” RapMon says, referring to Suga, JHope, Jimin, Jin, and V. “Jungkook’s going to need help getting around L.A.”

 

“Oh right” You reply, realizing that he had a point there.

 

You turn around and walk towards Jungkook who was still finishing his last bit of pasta.

 

“Kookie, hurry up!” Jimin shouts as they exit the restaurant.

 

“Coming” Jungkook replies. “You’re coming with me?” Jungkook asks, seeing that you were walking with him.

 

“I was giving the task of keeping you out of trouble” You joke, attempting to avoid any kind of awkwardness with Jungkook on this trip.

 

“Haha” Jungkook laughs. “You’ll be the one in trouble when you see me dance.” He jokes.

 

That last comment leaves you speechless again. You just laugh at how excited he is to be back in L.A.

 

“I’m going to buy ice cream for Park sunbaenim’s students” Jungkook says as the two of you pass an ice cream shop.

 

“It looks quite expensive,” You say while looking at the fancy building. You weren’t sure how much money Kpop idols made, but you knew a big portion of their income went to their companies. You were going to offer to pay, but Jungkook insisted that he had to pay in order for the ice cream to really be a gift from him.

 

“I haven’t seen them in a long time. I’m sure they’ll love it” Jungkook beams, walking out of the shop with 5 different flavors of cones all packaged nicely.

 

When the two of you reach the dance academy, the lady at the front desk almost refused to let you in, stating that you guys don’t look like students of the academy.

 

“We’re just here to visit his old dance teacher.” You explain. “His name is Jeon Jungkook.”

 

Hearing the name didn’t ring a bell for that stubborn lady, but luckily dance teacher Park walk out at that moment and sees Jungkook.

 

“Jungkook-ah, you’re here!” He says smiling and waking over to give Jungkook a hug.

 

“Sunbaenim, how have you been?” Jungkook greets him.

 

“Let me introduce you to my new students” Park says while guiding the two of you over to the dance studio.

 

Jungkook walks in and greets everyone politely. He was surprised to see that he didn’t recognize any of the students anymore. Park explains that most of his old students had already gone off to do bigger and better things.

 

“Ah, of course” Jungkook says, hiding his disappointment. He was really hoping to see his old buddies again. “Well, I brought ice cream for everyone!” He says excitedly.

 

Most of the students just gave Jungkook weird looks. Jungkook walks over to pass out the ice cream he had wholeheartedly bought with his own money, but none of the students seemed to be accepting of it.

 

“We’re on diets” One of the girls said, giving Jungkook a condescending look.

 

“Who would bring ice cream to a dance studio?” One of the guys said to the other guy beside him.

“Jungkook-ah, why don’t you go change and warm up for practice?” Park comes over and says.

 

The students all go back to stretching, and some of them even look at Jungkook and smirk. There are a lot of whispers as Jungkook walks back towards you.

 

He looks really sad, and you could tell he was trying not to act weak and cry, but by the sound of his sniffles, you knew he was feeling really hurt on the inside. You thought about how happy he was just moments ago when he proudly bought ice cream with his own hard earned money, you wished the members were here to cheer him up, but of course they were on the other side of the city.

 

“Jungkook-ah, are you going to give me one of those ice cream cones?” You ask, looking at him and then at the bag that contained the cones.

 

He looked at you surprised. “Ye-yeah, of course, help yourself” He stutters, still surprised.

 

“Thank you!” You say excitedly before you scarf one of the cones down quickly. Before you knew it, you had already finished 3 of the cones. You felt a brain freeze coming on, but you ignored it and continued to eat.

 

Jungkook watched in shock as you kept eating. He started laughing and commenting on how funny you looked eating ice cream like you hadn’t eaten in days. His mood instantly lifted and he began eating the ice cream too.

 

“I didn’t know you liked ice cream so much” Jungkook says, while finishing his last bite.

 

“Who doesn’t like ice cream?” You say. “Those dancers are too uptight, don’t worry about them. You do you and have a good practice session”

 

Jungkook nods with a wide smile and goes over to the locker room to change.

 

The sight of him walking away happily makes warmth spread through your heart. You were glad you could cheer him up like because it was so painful to see him hurt.

 

You were just about to sit back down in the hallway when you feel uneasiness radiate from your stomach. Thank god he doesn’t know I’m lactose intolerant. You think to yourself as you rush to the bathroom.

 

 

…

 

 

“They what?!?!” V says pissed after Jungkook explained what happened. “I want to see their faces after I give them a piece of my fist.”

 

“They’d better take those ungrateful asses back to the mountains” Jin says.

 

“Hyung, what kind of diss is that?” Jimin says, laughing really hard.

 

“He’s taking dad jokes to a whole new level” Suga replies.

 

“It’s ok guys, I’m over it” Jungkook says, slumping on the couch.

 

“So all that expensive ice cream went to waste?” JHope asks, pitifully, while shaking his head.

 

“No, Minchan and I ate it all” Jungkook grins. He recalls the image of you eating ice cream; deep down he knew that you only did it to cheer him up. He didn’t like it when people saw his vulnerable side, but he was really grateful you were there today.

 

“Ok, so beach tomorrow and hiking? Or should we go to an amusement park?” RapMon says, walking into the room.

 

“Amusement Park” Jungkook says.

 

“I second that” V says, raising his hand as if they were taking a vote.

 

“Nooooo, I’m afraid of heights” Jimin comments.

 

“Oh, but you were fine last time” Suga says.

 

“We could also split up, but that would mean Minchan would have to go with one of the groups, and I’ll stay with the other group” RapMon says.

 

“She can come to the amusement park with us” V says, putting an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder.

 

“Who says I’m going hiking?” RapMon interrupts.

 

V and Jungkook look at RapMon feeling a little bit embarrassed.

 

“Nah, I’m just playing” RapMon laughs. “You guys go ahead and enjoy the rides”

 

 

 

 

 

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