With Love

65. Bye Bangtan! (Final)

At the airport in Seoul,

Manager Sejin: OH MY GOSH!!! Am I glad to see you all back in one piece!

Manager Sejin lunges forward to grab each member in a hug and extends a hand towards the girls.

Namjoon: Glad to see you too hyungnim!

Yoongi: Hope you've been well!

Manager Sejin's shudders and an expression of anguish replaces his bright smile.

Manager Sejin: Been well?!! Can't you see how much I've aged in the span of less than 48 hours? You'll were supposed to be on a vacation for God's sake! How the hell did the plan of playing beach ball turn into a murder case?

Jane: Well, I-I'm still alive, so it isn't exactly m-murder.

Manager Sejin: You are alive alright, thank goodness, but my soul knocked the gates of heaven at least twenty times, refusing to rest till I saw all of you safe and sound with my own two eyes.

Namjoon: Oh, don't worry hyungnim. We're all good and fine and healthy and strong. You should really take a breather.

Manager Sejin tenses visibly and clutches his shoulders across his chest to calm himself down.

Manager Sejin: Geez, I'm getting goosebumps while thinking what could have happened if things went awry. Though PD-nim is in the loop about all the happenings, I doubt he is too pleased with the way things have taken a turn. And your fans! They would butcher me if they learnt about your horrendous experience. It's a wonder that I'm intact and present before you all! I feel so responsible for every one of you.

Hoseok: Aw Manager Sejin, I know you are worried about us, but I wish you could ease up a bit. I think I know just what you need right now.

Hoseok steps forward with a sunshine smile and outstretched arms as Manager Sejin reciprocates the gesture by raising his own. However, instead of a hug, he feels a pair of hands vigorously rubbing his chest.

Manager Sejin quirks his eyebrows and glances at the others before squaring his gaze towards the member in front of him.

Manager Sejin: What are you doing?

Hoseok: Mental care, mental care.

Manager Sejin looks at the others, extremely appalled. However, Hoseok continues to work his hand in circular motions with a wide smile plastered on his face, oblivious to the bigger man's bewilderment.

Manager Sejin: Is he always like this?

Namjoon: Always.

Manager Sejin clasps Hoseok's hands to bring him to a stop.

Manager Sejin: Okay okay, I'm fine now. Thanks for your mental care. We should get going. The cars are lined up outside to take you'll to the dorm. The girls will have to go separately an hour later so that we do not arise any suspicions.

The seven members follow Manager Sejin along with a few bodyguards disguised in plain clothes, out of the private lobby. The girls stay back, lying in wait for their turn to exit the airport. Soon, Manager Sejin returns to personally escort them out. At the same time, he hands them back their phones that had been taken away before the trip to Iiawah.

The ride to the dorm is a silent one. The three girls are swarmed with complex thoughts about all that had happened over the span of their month-long vacation. A major portion of those thoughts carried disbelief; a disbelief that whatever happened or was happening was just a mirage and that they'd soon find out that they would be back into the desert of their mundane lives as it were before they embarked on their trip to South Korea.