Wish (Jung Hoseok)

Sixteen

Two weeks and six days. Tomorrow would mark three weeks.

Finally.

Riley had done so much in such little time, sending Sarah a plethora of pictures of Jungkook, who she of course already knew.

Then, she sent his number. 

To say Sarah was shocked would be an understatement, as Riley's condition kind of prevented her from telling the girl she was close to the band.

But once she did, and Sarah sent that first message to Jungkook, Riley was bombarded with cakes, hugs and candy by the childish maknae.

Every time his phone would go off, he'd grin and thank Riley again, like it was a reminder of the 'favor.'

When really, the favor was more to Sarah, who preferred Jungkook over the other six members.

It was obvious Sarah was on board.

And besides, Riley enjoyed seeing both of her friends happy.

-

The day was growing closer.
There Riley laid in Hoseok's bed, his blanket hugged close as the very last of his scent was breathed through her nose, out her mouth.

Who was she kidding? Nothing was left.

But that nearing moment she got to be in his arms, the real, living Hobi's scent back for her comfort.

Damn... Do I love him? The thought echoed in her head.

The question almost six men had previously asked, she was now asking herself.

Hoseok's eyes appeared in her vision behind her eyelids, like a dream she wanted to be able to just wake up and be right in front of her.

But Riley kept her tired eyes closed, willing an image of Hoseok to pass her blank eyes in her own darkness.

Soon, imaginary Hoseok broke into a grin, his toothy smile reflecting on the light she manifested, like sunlight.

Yellow light shining on his high cheek bones, in his chocolate eyes.

Riley's stomach erupted into butterflies, a feeling deep in her gut that felt like she would vomit the chocolates Jungkook had gifted her that night.

But that never came. Only a hand clutching her stomach as the unfamiliar feeling spread to her chest.
It was exhilarating; a tingling warmth spreading through her arms and legs like an addictive drug that had been injected straight in her arm. It felt good. But it was all the more terrifying.

When the drugged feeling subsided, Riley decided she would never imagine Hoseok in such lighting again.

Or at all.

-

Riley slammed her apartment door, feeling like a sledgehammer had just been driven into her head. Repeatedly.

She downed some Advil almost as soon as the red chalky pills hit her hand. In some desperate attempt to keep the migraine at bay.

For some reason, the migraine had been lingering since the night before, when she decided to think of Hoseok in such an... intrusive way.

Before Riley could even swallow, her phone began to ring, the caller ID telling Riley it was Dani.

Dani?

Riley answered within the first ring.

"Hello...?"

"Hello, Riley. I am Dani's translator..." a woman's voice said, settling some relief for Riley as she was thankful nothing had happened.

Riley heard Dani in the background.

"Tell her Hyunwoo is upset with her for not calling him."

Riley's heart dropped. Wait a second...

"Dani say that again."

"Hyunwoo is-"

"Say something more than that."

"Jesus okay, uh... could you pass a message on to Jimin that I very much would like him to kick me in the face?"

"Oh fuck-"

"Riley?"

"I understand, why do I understand? What's going- I gotta go."

Riley hung up, calling Namjoon before her brain could even calculate that her fingers were tapping the call button.

"It's Joon~" he answered.

"Namjoon! Say something in Korean right now."

"Oh... kay... Hoseok called before you did, he wanted to let you know he was here."

Riley's stomach did a thousand flips, some for the fact she could still understand Korean, and 900 more for the fact that Hobi was home.

Of course, she wouldn't have known she could understand if she was staying with the band, but once she got that call...

Riley hung up and ran out the door, a smile on her face.

Then she stopped.

Hoseok is home. I can't decide if I love him or not. If you exploded last night, what's going to happen when he's really in front of you?... fuck it.

With that decision, she continued down the path to the airport, her sneakers smacking against the pavement in loud, firecracker snaps.

Closer... closer... CLANG

"Fuck!"

Riley's eyes narrowed at the airport sign that she had oh so stupidly run into during her practically sight seeing the Seoul airport.

"Riley?" She heard his voice say.

"Hobi!" Riley's eyes welled with tears as she tackled the poor man in the tightest hug she could give.
Hoseok chuckled, holding her close to his chest. "Hello, aein... it's been a while, huh?"

"Shut up, you ... I can't even insult you I missed you so much" she squeaked, finally looking in his eyes.

Shit...

The sun was setting, a contrast of orange and yellow reflected through the windows, directly onto his already bright smile. His defined jawline and cheekbones.

"I missed you, Riley. More than you know and- holy... are you alright? You just got so pale and-"

"Stop talking you'll make it worse" she whined, clutching her stomach in a desperate attempt to push away those damned butterflies.

He chuckled at her, knowing she was dramatic already but this was just icing on the cake.

"Riley, did you eat too much Mochi?"

"Maybe. Come on, I have so much to tell you about today and you've only been back for ... an hour?"
"Twenty minutes"
"Oh jeez."

She still couldn't believe it. The airport sign, the news articles broadcasted on the giant screens in town... she could read them all.