Chapter 23 - 여행 (YEO-HAENG)[Trip]

"So, Roxi, how is your career going?"asked Lim-unnie.

The two of us decided to meet at a nearby restaurant before I left for Japan tonight. She was going to have a comeback soon while I was at the award ceremony and both our careers were looking pretty well. Her move to JYP also seemed to benefit her, but she also missed BigHit when I started talking about all the people I've met and how many memories I've made.

"Oh my gosh I realized that BigHit actually recorded the answers to my questions from my interview."I gasp, looking at my fanpage."Wow, I still remember all of this."

"Really what did you say?"asked Lim-unnie.

"What is your ideal type? My ideal type is someone who is healthy, both mentally and physically. They need to have a unique personality and an ambition to do what other people believe is impossible. They have to love me as much as I love them to be my ideal type."I recite, looking at the webpage."I was so cliche."

"Aw that's such a cute response though!"Lim-unnie coos, squishing my cheeks."Does it say anything else?"

"'I was born in Chicago before moving to Seoul. Never went under the knife.' Hmm... I barely remember answering any of these."I say, reading snipits here and there.

"Oh that's normal. They add some facts about you that were often unanswered during your first interview."she figures, looking on the webpage on her own phone."'Likes cooking, dogs, music, piano music, sweaters, traveling, anime, tea, and practicing.' Wow, you like a lot of things."

"Woah, it even mentions how I always have my white headphones on."I chuckle, lifting up my white beats while I talked.

"You always wear those headphones. Are they what, your trademark?"Lim-unnie asked."Or are you being sponsored by Drake?"

"Well, I mean...I just really like music. And it's sort of a habit by now. I can barely leave the dorm without them."I sweatdrop, realizing how attached I've become to them."Don't you have a trademark?"

"It's really difficult for idols to have a physical trademark like necklaces or bracelet. I usually find my eyes my trademark."she thought, puffing up her cheeks slightly."All eyes are unique you know."

"Mhm, I get it."I smile, finding her words very meaningful as she smiled back."I'll need to get going soon."

"Same, well. Have fun on your trip!"

Soon after our talk we part ways and I head to the dorm so I could get picked up by my manager. I made it fifteen minutes early and I quickly parked my motorcycle inside the lot and hurried to my dorm. I passed by some of the members who were carrying a few bags with their belonging out the door. Most gave me a nod of acknowledgment or a smile while I walked past them. I opened up my dorm and fed my dogs, saying goodbye to them before I grabbed my suitcase and headed out the door. My manager was driving in her standard black camry, looking sleep deprived yet bubbly as usual. BTS was filing into a larger van where their own manager was in.

"Good mornin' Roxi!"greeted my manager."Just put your bag in the backseat and let's head to the airport before these dorks get there first."

I chuckle and nod, sitting in the passenger seat with my seatbelt on as she sped off to the airport; leaving the other car parked in front of the dorm."You sure we won't get pulled over with how fast you're going?"

"We're here anyway so it doesn't matter!"she cheers, pulling up to the front of the airport whilst handing me a ticket with my information written on it.

'Osaka, Japan'

I looked at the ticket, my heart jumping out of my chest when I looked back up at my manager."Wish me luck."

"You'll do great!"she assures, throwing me my bag."I'll make sure to take care of everything while you're away."

I nod and wave to her, watching as she floored it once more and headed to the main building. I smiled and walked into the airport. My face mask helped hide my appearance and I started thinking twice. Maybe I should've waited for the guys to get here with their body guards before I headed to our flight. The TV screen naming all the flights showed I had thirty minutes until it was said to leave. Shaking my head I walked into security, thankful most of them didn't recognize me or were too busy to remember me when I passed through all the tests. After passing through security with my bag I hurried to the Corner Bakery and bought myself a large caramel macchiato. The airport was surprisingly silent, the only people I could see were seated by their terminals on their phones. Once I reached my own terminal I sat in the chair nearest to the entrance of the plane. I gave my ticket to the flight attendant as the room started filling up and she immediately let me in, seeing that I was in first class. She opened up the door and let me slip in without anyone noticing. The nearby flight attendants nodded to me, knowing the procedure; one led me to my seat, another slid my bag under my chair, while another took my order on drinks. I was fine for now, it was actually the first time I would be going out of Seoul to perform, even the first time going on a plane as an idol. This treatment was something I could get used to. The silent tapping of my phone keypad was interrupted by loud laughing and random nonsense from the back of the plane. I turned around to see everyone as well as my temporary manager, Bangtan's managers, and two body guards walk onto the plane with the boys in the front.

"Yay I get to sit next to Roxi!"cheered Jungkook, taking the only seat to my right while I took the window seat.

"Hey guys, what took you so long?"I ask, watching as they put their carry on luggage in the overhanging containers.

"We were stuck in traffic for a while."said Namjoon, Hoseok sat next to him, who sat in front of me."Thank god! We get to go back to Japan!"

"Does everyone here know Japanese?"asked Tae, who sat behind me with Jimin next to him.

His question was more directed towards me so I spoke to him in the most fluent accent I could muster."Yep! I can speak fine Tae-senpai."

"Cute!"he cooed, back hugging my chair while Jungkook twacked his forehead."In Japan do what the Japanese do!"

"We aren't even in Japan yet!"pointed out Jimin, making Tae's smile turn into an exaggerated frown.

"Shame on you Jiminie you made Tae-hyung depressed!"teased Jungkook.

"I'm your hyung too! I'm two years older than you and I was born in Busan first!"whined Jimin as he ruffled Jungkook's hair.

"But I'm the Golden Maknae so that makes me better than you."he gloated, sticking out his tongue at the older male."Right noona?"

"I think both of you are really cool."I answer, not wanting to take a side.

"True but who's cool-er?"smirked Jimin."She's gonna think I'm cooler."

"Fine you can be cooler, I'll just be hotter!"laughed Jungkook, the other men hollered and clapped at his comeback.

I rolled my eyes, this was going to be a long plane ride. Once the plane was filled up with the business class passengers, we took lift off and I watched as we rose from the asphalt ground. Plane rides always seemed to calm me down, it felt strange when I saw the people around me tense up until we reached median altitude. The seatbelt sign turned off and I relievingly unbuckled my belt so I could pull my laptop out from my bag underneath my chair. The maknae line kept fooling around and I felt as if I were socializing with the hyung line more during this journey. Yoongi sat with Jin across the aisle from me, we both waved at each other until he fell asleep using his neck pillow.

"Have you ever been to Japan?"asked Namjoon, showing me a sightseeing book."All of us are going to have a photoshoot in these areas and PDnim wants you to work with us during the trip. He said it would create good marketing to work together."

"Sure, have you tried seeing the Japanese cherry blossom forest?"I ask, looking through the book with noglastic feelings filling up my chest."I remember that whenever I came back from America I would go there to visit. I know a few people in Japan who can suggest some places to go to."

"Perfect."said Jin, looking through his computer files."Did you go anywhere else in Osaka?"

"The aquarium, the huge ferris wheel, and also the castle park."I answer, thinking back to my past where I was a teen and would alternate from school in America to breaks in Korea every few months."At least, those attractions are most interesting to me."

"If Roxi thinks they're cool then we should go."proposes Hoseok."We'll have some time to sightsee once we land because the awards ceremony isn't until tomorrow night."

"Don't you think we know that Hobi?"growled Yoongi, irritated by the amount of talking."We'll go have a photo shoot with Roxi before the ceremony and then we'll decide who sleeps with who."

"Doesn't Roxi get her own room since she's like...you know, a girl?"asked Jungkook who suddenly lowered his voice down a notch out of embarrassment.

"Namjoon and Jungkook already decided to share a room."informed Yoongi."Jin and I wanted to share a room the next time we went to a hotel."

Everyone looked at the maknae line, especially me since I wanted to know who I would be staying with for the next three nights."Hey Kookie and Hobi-hyung and I will share a room yeah? We did promise the V app that we would eat together."

Tae cheekily winks at me then nudged his head over to Jimin who was as red-faced as a tomato. Jungkook pouted, but decided to help Tae tease Jimin on the matter he would need to sleep in the same room as me. I turned to face forward, it's not like I cared that much. I mean, I had a sleepover with Jungkook and Yoongi before so this shouldn't be much of a difference. The flight ended in only a few hours and soon enough we were at Osaka. I took my bag and headed out a few minutes after the guys left so that my manager could explain this collab to me.

"You will be staying with Jimin tonight, so please, don't do anything that will put both your careers at risk. If a scandal happens this will be on not only my hands but on the other managers' as well."she says strictly, leading me to our own car to the hotel."I know I'm not as fun as your usual manager, but not all of us are all as optimistic as she is."

I nod, seeing her way of thinking."What are my restrictions with the guys then? Or like, any guy in general. Or girl, I mean you never know."

"Didn't PDnim tell you all our regulations on relationships?"she scoffed, opening up the back door of the car for me; sighing when she saw me shake my head."You've got a lot to learn rookie."

She stepped into the seat next to me and we followed the large black bus in front of us.

The silhouettes of Bangtan were clear as day from the back window, Tae waved at me and I waved back.

"Okay, BigHit is not as strict on idols' personal relationships as other companies. Some companies even take away the rookie's phones to keep them from posting things they...would regret. Even with these loosened reins we do still have rules. One, there is no dating between idols without consent from the boss, because we could lose fans or gain fans. That's not a bargain anyone is into right now, nor are we desperate for this. Two, you may date normal people...but don't make it public. This usually causes the most outrage so this usually doesn't happen in the industry. Three, sexual relations between idols is strictly forbidden unless rule number one is followed. Sex is alright, kissing is alright, but if these 'actions' are made public both idols can say goodbye to their career. Public displays of affection in front of the camera are forbidden. You may not kiss other idols but you can hug, that is if it is OBVIOUSLY a friendly gesture."she rambles as I listen and take in the information."Basically, if you keep it quiet then there's no need for the company to intervene. Sex or not."

"I see...I guess I haven't broken any rules yet."I admit, running a hand through my hair."Trust me, I don't even see any of the guys in...that way. They're more like my closest friends."

"Now they are. But things can change."she says coldly."Look, I'm not saying those things are bad. I'm just saying they have to be kept secret. You can go fuck all of them if you want, if the media doesn't find out then it's alright."

"W-What?! I wouldn't even dream of doing anything of that sort with any of them!"I blush, my cheeks turning crimson as she smirked at my innocence."Hmpf...you're more like my manager than you think."

"I'll take that as a compliment."she chuckles, the car pulled up to the hotel room so I grabbed my bag and got out."If you feel stressed just ask Jimin to relieve you before the stage."

My eyes widen and I turn around to see her wink and quickly close the car door in my face before telling the driver to hurry off. I guess she's going to the hotel later then. I walk into the hotel, right behind Hoseok while the body guards flanked all eight of us from either side. One of their managers went to grab the key cards while the other three ran through hotel rules and policy as well as food service limits; much to our dismay. All the rooms of the staff and us took up an entire floor and our rooms were a few hallways and turns apart. Jimin and I took the elevator first, he and I took off our masks and inhaled a breath of fresh air in the elevator.

"Looks like I'm your roommate for this trip."he says cooly."Which bed do you want?"

"Do you really want to decide now? I don't really care to be honest."

"You sure? I hear the Osaka sunset is really pretty from this hotel."he chuckles, giving me a crescent eye smile."I'll be taking the bed near the window then?"

"Sure sure, I need my wall anyway."I roll my eyes at his childish attitude when he did a small happy dance."You do realize that your managers can look at this elevator footage if they ever want to?"

"Let them watch me be happy."Jimin says to the small hole on the control board."I love you manager-nims."

The elevator doors slid open once we landed on the tenth floor. The full walled windows allowed some sunlight to enter the empty hallway, that is if there was sunlight this late at night.

"Room 1016. Room 1016."Jimin chanted while looking at the signs on the walls."This place feels more like a resort. I think there's a pool on the third floor too."

"Swimming?"I laugh."It's too cold for that."

"It's a bit over seventy degrees, it's not too cold in my opinion."he shoots back, sticking his tongue out at my pouting face."Guess I'll go swimming by myself. Ah- found it!"

We both had our own room keys, he used his own to open the door. The room was pretty standard. A small fridge, a flat screen, a full bathroom, two beds, a couch, and a closet. Jimin placed his bag on his bed and took off his mask with a relieved sigh. I put my bag in between my bed and the wall and looked through my phone. It was still one in the morning , so it would be a good time for all of us to get some rest and get ready for sightseeing at nine.

"Is it usually this bright here?"asked Jimin, closing the blinds to hide the small hint of light from reaching his eyes."Do you want to take a shower first?"

"Sure, I'll be out soon."

"No, take your time."

I looked through my bag and took out some grey sweatpants, a velvet red tanktop, and underwear before entering the bathroom. I took a shower to calm my tense muscles and put up my wet hair in a towel. After changing into my clothes I exited and Jimin walked in after me with his own toiletries and clothing. Once he got in I decided to check out the rest of the room. As usual there was a standard safe in the closet and the papers for food service were next to the TV. Most of the channels weren't very good so I was about to grab my phone when it suddenly started ringing.

"Hello?"I say into the speaker.

"Hello, is this AJ Torrez?"

"Yes."

"I see, hello there. I'm calling from the University of Chicago, Illinois. We have gone through your high school exam scores and transcripts and the board has decided to invite you to study at our school starting at September."a slightly cheery voice said through the line."You are an absolute genius with an extremely high GPA during high school, you've taken all honors classes, joined many extra curriculars, and have aced nearly every exam brought to you."

"Yes, um...about that. I will be out of the country indefinitely. Is there I way I can still use the material learned in classes while I am away. I can come to America for exams."

"The material is very hard. But I understand that this is an open campus. If you keep up with the work abroad and take the exam here, then I believe that it may be possible for you to get your degree."

"Thank you, should I send you my address so you can send me the papers?"I ask.

As I settle things under the covers of my bed, the white duvet making a tent like form around me while I talk about tuition fees and textbook fees.

"Alright, you will get your materials by next week. Thank you for being a part of the University of Chicago, please come to visit anytime."

"Thank you."

They hang up and I lay onto my back, letting my head poke through the covers to see Jimin on his bed, scrolling through his phone."Hi Jimin-oppa."

He looked up at me with a small smile. His pink hair was slightly damp while his bare face was slightly stiff. I sat up and sat cross-legged on my bed.

"Is something wrong?"I asked, noticing his tenseness.

"No. I mean...where are you going?"he asked, tapping the back of his phone case as he went on."You're going to study in America? Aren't you happy being an idol?"

"What? No it's just...one of my dream schools just called me and invited me there. I'll be studying here but I'll take the final exams there."I explain, making him light up with happiness.

"You're going to college now?! Wow that's amazing!"he praises."Jin-hyung graduated a few days ago did you hear? I want to go to college and finish everything up. I just plan on thinking about the future after music. If anything, I don't see myself doing anything but entertainment..."

"Wow, I mean. Before I auditioned, back when I was in seventh grade, I only came to Korea over the summer or during winter break. I was always going to school in America because my uncle thought it would be the best for me to learn there, as well as learn English. I mean, it was fun and all and I made a lot of friends, but...after I auditioned I knew it would be harder for me to visit America. When I got in, I thought I should have quit school to focus on being an idol. My uncle thought otherwise, so for the next year, I finished high school. And I haven't thought about college unless it was about my dream university in Chicago."I reminisce, looking at my past before joining the idol life."I've always wanted to be a doctor or a teacher. I was more of a science and psychology major in high school. So, I'll be going for a medical path."

"That's cool! You'd make a great doctor."Jimin compliments with a smile, sending a surge of heat to tinge my cheeks."But can I be honest with you?"

"Sure."

"I think you'd make a better idol."he says slightly quieter.

"Oh? Why's that?"I ask, a shy smile forming on my lips."I know I seem like I know what I'm doing but...I think I'm not as cut out for this lifestyle as much as you are. I mean, look at you. You're all happy, open, and lively on stage...and you have such an ambition. And then here I am, I can barely go on stage without becoming a nervous wreck."

"That's why you keep going and practice. You're a perfect idol, heck a perfect person."Jimin cuts himself off suddenly after his last statement and started tugging on the hem of his basketball shorts awkwardly."I-I mean...You're really nice to me. Much nicer than any other girl has ever been besides my mother."

"Aw thank you!"I say, a small giggle following right after."That's really cute."

"Thanks."Jimin says sheepishly."We should get to bed. We'll be walking a lot tomorrow."

"Oh right."

We only had about six hours to sleep. Jimin got up to turn off the main light while I plugged in my phone next to the lampshade to charge. Only the lamp on the side table was on so I went up to pull the chain down until I felt a hand wrap around mine at the exact same time. Jimin's hands were soft, plushy even. I gripped the chain tighter when Jimin's hand loosened against my hand, only to drag down to my wrist.

"I can't get over it. Your hands are so small."he whispered, his thumb absentmindedly ran over the back of my hand.

"Yours are too."I say, watching his hand move back up to the chain to pull it down so the light turned off.

"Goodnight Jimin-oppa."

I see his shadow move to his bed as the rustling of covers reached my ears. Even in the darkness I could see his bright smile when I clung onto my pillow next to me.

"Goodnight."